By Jan Calvert
Born in West Leeds, best-selling author and archeologist Sally Coulthard presented fascinating artifacts from the countryside as described in her book ‘A Brief History of the Countryside in 100 Objects.’
The event took place earlier this week at Truman’s Books as part of the Farsley Literarature Festival.
Sally said: “Everything has a story! These ancestral objects tell a hidden history of our
countryside.”
She described how any curious person may hold an object and ask it questions – who made you? Why? What is your purpose? Were you treasured or discarded?
Among the objects displayed were ‘Chicken googles’ – tiny spectacles which clip on to the bridge above the beak of a chicken. They were invented when factory farming in the 1930s led to the need to protect the eyes from pecking. Now, a rare object as debeaking was the cheaper option!
Knitting was a real economic sideline for many rural workers who could multi-task if a knitting needle was secured within a wooden sheath fastened to their belt. A collectable item, the wooden ‘Knitting Sheaths’ were carved and decorated with protective symbols or often given as a love token.
Object No 77 in Sally’s book is a ‘Bird Scarer’. The wooden rattle tells of rural child labour.
Sally’s research led her to George Edward, a Liberal MP in the 1850’s.
At six years old, he worked in the newly sown fields for 12 to 14 hours a day, swinging the wooden rattle to ward off birds.
Sally said: “The objects reveal the often invisible and untold history of the ordinary person in a rural setting.”
Her books explore fascinating insights into natural history and folklore. For further details,
see Sally’s website.
Fantastic Farsley Lit Fest continues this week with something for all the family, including An
evening of Gothic Horror, Horrible Histories with Terry Deary and a full day of author
workshops for families on Children’s Day.
For more information, visit Farsley Lit Fest’s website.
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