Page 11 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • March 2002 11
Farming in the heart of Haydon Wick
Fires & Floors
Alan Bushell meets Swindon's urban farmers Doug and Caryl Clifford
As the development of houses, there still. Doug married Caryl in 1957 and
shops, schools, churches and com- The current owner is Doug they are both still actively involved The warmth of an open fire,
munity facilities continues apace Clifford who was born on the farm in the day to day running of the the beauty ofa wooden floor
at Priory Vale in North Swindon, in 1921, the eldest of three broth- farm, sharing duties with their son for your home.
one new and largely unseen fea- ers. John. They now concentrate on beef
ture seems somewhat unusual: a In those days the farm concen- production, with a herd of over Traditional e " contemporary
tunnel for cattle has been built trated on milk production and as 100 head.
under the northern orbital road, an eleven year old Doug was re- Until recently, they were re- replaces and quality modern
Thamesdown Drive. quired to milk four cows before stricted by the regulations imposed flooring, the Barnfield way
during the foot and mouth disease
outbreak. But neither the problems Tel: 01793 765027
facing the farming community in
general, nor the urban develop- www.firesandfloors.com
ment can deter the Cliffords from
1 3 High Street, Highworth, Swindon
their intention to continue to farm
in the heart of Haydon Wick.

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Doug and Caryl Clifford at Haydon End Farm
When brought into use, Haydon setting off for Rodbourne Cheney
Farm will carry on business as School. All milking at the farm
usual, a rural enclave in an urban was done by hand until 1952 when
environment. a petrol driven engine was intro-
It was in 1918 that John William duced. Electricity did not reach
Clifford drove 39 head of cattle the farm until 1957. One of the two
from his erstwhile home in Purton milking sheds was reputed to be
Stoke and took up residence at the longest cowshed in Wiltshire.
Haydon Farm at the end of Haydon Pre-war, most of the milk was
End Lane. The family is farming transported by horse and cart to
Moredon Halt Station in 17 gallon
churns (today 14 gallons is the
No bomb found yet norm).
The Link reported in January 2000 However, Doug can remember
on Alan Thipthorpe's concern that his father driving his horse and
North Swindon developers might cartround Swindon, ladellingmilk
unearth a into jugs and pans on the door-
World War II step. Four or five horses provided
bomb which the motive power on the farm un-
he is con- til farmer Clifford acquired his first
vinced did not tractor in 1949.
explode in a Farming, of course, continued
1942 attack on throughout the Second World War.
the Garrard Doug enlisted in the Home Guard
Factory, off with the responsibility for protect-
Lady Lane. ing the power station in Moredon.
Alan, from No landgirls graced the farm, but
Alan,holdinga the war did make its mark just at
Tooth ill ,
worked there picture of a Stirling the end when a Dakota aircraft
making fuselages for Stirling crashed in a field close to the farm-
bombers. "I was the last to get into house, killing all seven airmen on
the shelter on the night of the raid board.
and heard three explosions. Hav- In those days, Haydon End Lane
ing come from the London blitz, I provided access to five farms, all
knew the sound of falling bombs, producing milk. Since then, one
and there were four. farm has become a plant nursery -
"I've always wondered if that Grange Farm Garden Centre which
bomb lies buried near Lady Lane." many readers will have visited -
Digger drivers better watch out two farms have been demolished
as construction starts to the west and the land acquired for develop-
and north of the Garrard Factory, ment, and one farmhouse has been
in Priory Vale. converted into a private home.