Machinery Identification

[teegee]

Hi, Thanks for the opportunity to post this photo and see whether anyone could come up with the type of machinery it or they are. The photo shows a piece of equipment (or it could be two). It may be at a country fair or similar (as there appears to be a Marque at the back right of the photo) One of the men appears to be wearing cricket whites. It is believed to be in Woolverstone in Suffolk, which is not far from Ipswich (Ransomes?) One of the men is a gardener for Woolverstone Hall. Any suggestions would be appreciated , Thanks Tony

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[trusty-mad]

It looks like it could be a Leyland steam lawnmower.

https://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/mower/mower.htm

[hdtrust]

A very interesting photo. Yes the mower in the back ground is a Leyland Steam Mower of 30 inch cut.
I know this photo well. The date of the photo is 1894 and it was taken at the first season at Woolerstone Cricket Club at their match against Colchester Garrison. In 1894 Woolerstone Hall was the seat of Charles Hugh Berners, High Steward of Harwich, Essex.
Charles Hugh Berners is the gentleman in the photo second from the left. His Son John A Berners is on the right in cricket flannels. In 1899 the England team played the Woolverstone team, at the Hall. In 1904 J.A. Berners played for Middlesex.
In 1937 Woolerstone Hall was sold. Was purchased by Lord Nuffield as an investment for Oxford University, in WW2 it was taken over and known as HMS Woolerstone, in the 1950’s it became a school and today its a large wedding venue!

[mr_bulldozer_uk]

Woolverstone Hall is still a school. It’s now Ipswich High school. A private school. Students are bussed in from many miles around the area. Yes it’s also a wedding venue. The main building is an impressive sight. Equally impressive inside too. I pass it on a many times a week. As I live not far from it.

[teegee]

Wow, thanks for the prompt and interesting facts which you have all provided. I’m helping a lady with some family tree photographs and she will be very pleased with all that information. I’m amazed that hdtrust knows so much about the photograph, perhaps I’ll try and contact him. I attach another one for interest, from the same area, Woolverstone Hall. Thanks again, Tony

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[simonp]

Hi. Thank you for the beautiful photograph of the group of people at Woolverstone. The comments were interesting. However, the identification of people in the photo is questionable. I believe the gentleman identified as Charles Berners, second from the left, is in fact William Messenger, head gardener at Woolverstone Hall from 1893. Charles Berners was born in 1842 and so would have been 52 at the time of this photograph. I would add that Woolverstone Park Cricket Club completed its first season in 1890, which is documented. I am unsure that the gentleman identified as John A Berners on the far right is indeed him. He was born in 1869 which would make him 25 at the date of this photo and somehow that doesn’t ring true. I have attached a photo of William Messenger. And a poor cropped copy of J A Berners from 1900. Should you follow this further, an England 11 v Woolverstone Park 1899, in Lords Archive, has William Messenger as an umpire.

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[hdtrust]

The original question was about the machine in the back ground, which I answered, I admit I did go on to try and identify the characters in the photo and earlier this year I did speak to Tony the originator of this question, my question to you Simonp are you a family member or the author of the book about the odd daughter of the Berners?
As for the steam mower I have a better picture of it in steam, and surprisingly enough, the machine still exists to this day, but alas I’m not going to divulge its whereabouts here!

[simonp]

Hi. Fascinating to learn the type of steam mower in the photo Tony G shared with the group. I would love to see the better picture of the mower in steam. Did it require coal to produce the steam and have a small furnace which needed stoking up. How long would it run on a firing up? So many questions. Sorry. I’m always curious. I only hoped to add some information to the discussion which would help. I’m guessing the man with the magnificent bowler hat must be someone like the land agent. It would be wonderful to learn the names of other characters in the photo. Yes, I am the author of the book about the remarkable Mary Alice Berners. What a character she was! Her father, of course, was Charles Berners. I have just written another book, “The Berners Family of Woolverstone”, which looks at the line of the Woolverstone Berners from around 1600 and one Josias Berners who bought shares in the New River Company in 1628 and a 25 acre farm in London, off what is now Oxford Street, in 1654. Two strands that generated considerable wealth for the family.

[Author]

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