The village of Ford

Image: © kim traynor Taken: 17 Apr 2011

Passing through this sleepy little village today, one would never suspect that it was once a hive of industry. James Small, the inventor of the Swing Plough had his home and workshop here, but I spoke to several residents and was unable to identify their location. Because of its greater manoeuverability, the lighter iron plough was acclaimed as a great advance on the heavy and cumbersome Old Scotch Plough, made of wood. It was regarded as an important element in Scotland's Agricultural Revolution of the late 18th century. It seems odd that the Rev. Mr John Clunie, who wrote the O.S.A. entry below, did not think that turning out several hundred ploughs a year (how many per week?) amounted to an industry of any consequence! "In the villages, of which there are four small ones in the parish, we here and there meet with a mason, a wright, a weaver, or a tailor, but the people are chiefly employed in husbandry. No manufactures or commerce of any consequence are in these bounds. One ingenious mechanick, indeed, we must not omit to mention. At the village of Ford, which lies on the eastern extremity of this parish, lives James Small, the best plough-maker in Scotland; In this particular department, indeed, he is perhaps second to none in the island. He makes 300, 400, and sometimes 500 ploughs in a year, and by his acknowledged and decided superiority, such is the demand, that had he sufficient stock, and chose to attend merely to his personal interest, he might make his own terms, and increase the sale of his ploughs to an incredible extent. His chain plough is now in general use, and well known. The man who holds, at the same time, with dexterity and ease drives two horses, which, if stout, are perfectly able to draw the plough in almost any soil. The same tradesman some time ago suggested cast metal instead of wooden sheath and mould-boards, which, upon trial, is found to be a most important improvement. He too has lately invented, for tilling steep or hilly ground, a plough, which has been inspected, proved, and recommended in strong terms by a most respectable Committee of the Dalkeith Farmer Society. This instrument has double coulters and mould-boards, and on such simple construction, that the ploughman shifts them with ease while he is turning the horses. By this device, in going along any declivity where it is necessary to plough always down-hill, instead of returning empty, as is common, a furrow is taken both ways, only it must be thrown from the left as well as from the right hand, which saves nearly one half of the time, and, by a little practice, can be done with equal ease for man and horses." -- entry for the parish of Borthwick, Old Statistical Account, 1791-3 Image

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