News Release

WEALD & DOWNLAND OPEN AIR MUSEUM’S RARE CROP OF RYE DESTINED FOR HARNESS MAKERS

Working Shire horses harvested a very unusual crop at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, West Sussex this summer - rye, grown specifically for harness makers to use in the manufacture of horse collars.

Today very little exceptionally tall rye is grown, but there is still a niche market for it for horse collars. These are in demand for heavy draught horses and light driving horses, and specialist harness makers still produce them.

The pad of the collar, which sits next to the horse’s shoulders and takes much of the strain of a horse-drawn load, is stuffed with the long and supple rye straw until hard, and covered with leather or strong cloth.

The "Protector" rye grown at the Museum of historic buildings and rural crafts at Singleton, deep in the South Downs, was produced to order for a number of harness makers and for the Countryside Agency, which runs training courses for young harness makers.

"Very little rye is grown today," says Museum director, Christopher Zeuner. "We have grown thatching straw for our own use and for commercial thatchers for many years and we were pleased to be able to satisfy the need of British harness makers by harvesting one acre of rye."

The crop grew straight and strong, with minimal fertiliser so as to maintain its strength, and on June was harvested green, as is traditional for horse collars. The Museum’s working horses were used to draw the binder to cut the crop. The straw made 900 sheaves, which were tied by hand and stooked carefully, to ensure the straw maintained its strength and length. After some two weeks drying in the field, they will be hauled in ready for transporting to harness makers.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits from town and country. It was recently Designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections. Visitors can discover the medieval farmstead, the working watermill producing stoneground flour, the 16^th century market hall, a delightful pair of 19^th century whitewashed cottages, the fascinating hands-on exhibition about traditional building techniques, historic gardens and farm livestock.

In addition to the buildings the Museum takes a special interest in nurturing rural skills and countryside crafts, growing thatching straw, producing hazel spars for thatching, milling flour, maintaining coppice woodland and marketing underwood products.

Delicious food is provided by the café next to the millpond and there is a well-stocked museum shop where you can browse books on countryside and buildings themes. Find out more about the Museum by visiting our website on www.wealddown.co.uk.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Click here for further images of heavy horses in action.

For further information please contact Museum director Christopher Zeuner or marketing officer Gail Kittle at the Museum on 01243 811363. Fax 01243 811475. Email marketing@wealddown.co.uk.

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