b'Steam Ploughing in Bishop WiltonMike Pratt & Arthur WoolasQuarton Wilkinson (1838-1912) East Yorkshire (see the advertisement below which It has already been indicated in a previous editionappeared in the Malton Messenger on April 5, 1879)!of this Bulletin that Quarton Wilkinson, as tenant ofSteam Ploughing: History & PracticeHall Farm, was probably the last occupant of the so- The first practical steam plough was introduced in called Manor House 1 which was being used as a farm1833. Its heyday was 1860-1920. It was in decline in house prior to its demolition around 1902. Born in Bishop Wilton in 1838, Quarton was one of at least nine children of Matthew Wilkinson, Farmer, and Ann his wife. He died at the age of 74 inBishop Wilton1912. Jan. 20 1880Meagre facts like these might be all we couldTo Sir Tatton Sykes Bart.,glean of Quarton from census details, churchAs you cannot get down to Bishop Wilton the weather records and his grave stone were it not for thebeing so severe I hope you will not think I have taken papers of the Sykes family of Sledmere lodgeda liberty Sir Tatton in writing the following as I am a with the Brynmor Jones Library. It is in thiscomparatively speaking young man yet and do not wish collection that we find a number of Quartonsto dictate to my Superiors.letters addressed to the Sledmere Estate ManagerI am in receipt of a Paragraph cut out of a newspaper and to Sir Tatton Sykes himself.headed Breaking Up Clay Subsoil. Mr Watts of Garton Steam Ploughing: The Issue on the Wolds has written to the Editor of the paper for It would appear from some of the lettersinformation based on facts respecting the use of the Steam that Quarton acted for the Sledmere EstatePlough on a farm with a subsoil of yellow clay which is with respect to their other tenant farmers withinin hand for thorough cleaning and it is only supposition the parish of Bishop Wilton. That role can beon my part but I imagine Mr Watts means Banks Farm considered in a future article. Here we will featureat Bishop Wilton. If he does he has made a mistake in one letter that was addressed to Sir Tatton Sykessaying that it has a subsoil of yellow clay for it is really himself, in somewhat guarded terms, about thered clay from top to the bottom. If it had been yellow clay effectiveness of steam ploughing: 2 I should have had more faith in the Steam Plough because The letter opposite shows some familiarity withas a rule sand follows after yellow clay and it would Sir Tatton Sykes and his movements so Quartonhave brought some of the sand up to the top which would must have known him on a personal level by thisbe beneficial. I still hold to my opinion that the Steam time. He must also have known that he couldPlough and Drag is to no use on strong clay land with a raise such an issue without fear of repercussions although he clearly felt the need to show hesubsoil of red clay. I have watched the effects of it very knew his place. It is interesting that the letter wasclosely for some years and have seen nothing startling addressed to Sir Tatton Sykes himself rather thanyet. I have also asked the opinion of several experienced to his Estate Manager so we can assume thatfarmers some who have reached the age of 70 years and Sir Tatton was known to be in touch with Estatethey say that rather than have the Steam Drag on their affairs and approachable. farms again they would let the land lay as it is. I find We can deduce that steam ploughing hadthe majority is very strong against its use. I only heard been introduced onto Estate land in Bishopyesterday that the East Riding Steam Cultivation Company Wilton by Sledmere and that it had been in use forhas paid little or no Dividends the past year.some years prior to the letter. While expressing his own views it is obvious that Quarton is alsoI remain Sir Tattonrepresenting others and that he was acting asYour Faithful Servanta spokesman in an effort to influence SledmereQuarton Wilkinsoninto ceasing use of the steam plough. He even goes as far as to question the financial viability of the company behind steam ploughing in 1Local History Bulletin No. 7 - The Early Lords of Bishop Wilton and their Manor House by AndrewSefton2Hull University Archives, Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull, Ref: DDSY/101/77.114 BULLETIN 8'