Answer to which army Joseph Hardman photographed

With the help of the Border Regiment Museum  I can now identify the army photographed by Joseph Hardman (image previously posted on this blog). The image shows the Annual Camp of what is thought to be the Yorkshire yeomanry unit between the early and mid 1930s. The yeomanry unit were a cavalry arm  of the territorial army.

Ice-Skating, Sheep Farming and an Army!

Between the 2nd October and 22nd December 2012 the Coffee House at Abbot Hall Art Gallery will temporarily display some of the black and white photographs taken by Joseph Hardman of ‘Winter in the Lake District’. Coincidentally, whilst scanning and catalogueing some of his glass plate negatives this week, I came across a range of images capturing some of the heavy snowfalls in the Lake District. Many of the images depict farmers tending to their sheep in the snow, in some cases it appears even having to dig them out! Farming has always been a very precarious occupation and still is today. Having looked at the real nature of sheep farming in the Lake District during the Winter, I have come to really admire these farmers.

Although the snow can bring qaos and disruption to daily life in the Lake District, it also provides new opportunities for enjoyment. This is evident is some of the glass plate negatives capturing people ice-skating on a frozen Derwentwater. These images are remeniscent of Victorian scenes of people ice-skating on the River Thames during some of the very bad Winters that we have had.

Sheep farming, as previously mentioned in this post, is a very important industry for the Lake District and has been for many years. The hills and fells make arable farming somewhat difficult, but are perfect for allowing sheep to graze. Sheep farming is less intensive than other livestock and they provide the farmer with meat, milk and fleeces, all of which can be sold. This week I came across many negatives capturing different aspects involved in sheep farming, including herding, dipping, shearing and sheep trials for a bit of fun! The sheep farming calender included lambing in March/April, Shearing and Dipping in June/July and the remainder of the year the farmer spends tending his flock(s). In many of the negatives, the sheep are captured either on a farm or in their common habitat on the fells grazing. However, there are also images of sheep being herded down roads quite precariously, including some negatives showing a very large flock of sheep being herded along All Hallows Lane in Kendal Town Centre. A similar image can also be seen on the front cover of the Museum  of Lakeland Life and Industry guide leaflet.

I have also come across a quite puzzling negative, showing what appears to be an army or cavalry camped at Esthwaite. The sleeve of the negative was labelled on the outside ‘Tourists’ but having looked closer at the image, the men on horse back are wearing what appears to be a military uniform. It is possible that the army could be the Border Regiment or soldiers doing National Service, but I hope to carry out further research to try to establish who the army are.

References

Hill Sheep Farming, Lake District, UK- Byrchall High School Revision Wiki (website)

http://www.byrchall.wigan.sch.uk/revision/index.php?title=Hill_Sheep_Farming,_Lake_District,_UK

Ice-Skating on Derwentwater
(Joseph Hardman Archive-Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry)

Sheep in All Hallows Lane, Kendal
(Joseph Hardman Archive-Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry)

Army Camp at Esthwaite
(Joseph Hardman Archive-Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry)