HISTORY:Taking a break in the hayfield at Chapel-le-Dale in 1949

NO ONE would dispute, in the past as now, that farming in the Dales can be a hard life. But this delightful picture provides a snapshot - literally - of a break from farm labour being enjoyed in a lovely rural setting. It was sent to us by Henry Coates Bargh, who writes: “It was taken about 1949 in the hayfield on our farm in Chapel-le-Dale. In the photo are, left to right, the late Martin Thorsby, my brothers John Thomas Bargh, Stanley Bargh, and myself , Henry Coates Bargh, next our late dad Henry James Bargh, and the late Tom Robinson. Martin was the son of a railway signalman living at Salt Lake Cottages, near Ribblehead. Martin later became a signalman at Ribblehead, Bleamoor, and other boxes along the line. He retired to Skipton. Tom Robinson worked at a nearby quarry, he lived in Ingleton; after work he would come to help in the hay field. He did this in exchange for the right to snare rabbits on the farm.