Traditional Wheat Stoops at Boswell Farm
Rafiki and Cordelia in the wheatfield
Walking the dogs has been such a pleasure recently, as the farmer has been cutting the long stalk wheat. I do love to see it stacked in the traditional stoop way, drying in the warm summer air.
Boswell Farm, of course, is steeped in tradition, and many years ago, all this wheat would have been brought into our threshing barn for the very energetic (and somewhat dangerous) activity of threshing. 
The men would swing huge threshing flails and strike the wheat on the threshing floor to loosen the edible grain from the chaff that surrounds it, before winnowing and sending to the mill – also here at Boswell Farm.
The threshing barn at Boswell Farm has been here since 1760 and is a grade two listed building. It is also a bank barn – accessible on two separate levels, and built into the side of a hill. It is reputed to be the only Bank Threshing Barn still standing on its original stone monastic pillars.
This whole area of course is important for agricultural history – not too many miles east is the village of Tolpuddle, famous for the Tolpuddle Martyrs, and with a most fascinating museum – perfect for rainy days, or day trips to Dorset.
Meanwhile, in less turbulent times, my dogs, my grand-daughter and I, and all our guests at Boswell Farm, can just delight in the glorious summer weather, with some of those traditional skills still on view, as we go walking on a balmy august evening …
Tags: Boswell Farm. Threshing, holiday cottages, threshing barn, traditional wheat stoops, wheatfield