The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Building haystacks
“Saturday’s photograph showed horse fork hay lifting grab in use,” emails Alex Carrie. “The hay was brought in from the field usually in small hay stacks called hay ricks. These were brought to the farm stackyard on a special hay rick bogie.
“These ricks were then lifted by the derrick, similar to that on a ship, for loading/unloading. The derrick post was held in place with guy ropes much like those to hold up a tent. The derrick had a small swing jib which would be swung to the required position for loading and unloading the hay.
“One person would bring in the hay, another would load the hay fork grab. The horse walker would walk the horse forward pulling a wire rope which hoisted the hay fork/grab.
“The load would be positioned as required by the two stack builders and the grab’s load released. The horse operator would then back up the horse, lowering the hay fork/grab for the next load.
“The person stepping over the lifting wire rope is taking a chance of injury and appears to be getting ready to dress down/trim the outside of the haystack to help make it tidy and help waterproof it by combing it with the wooden hay rake which they are carrying. The person at horse appears to be a lassie, not a laddie, as they appear to have a pigtail and wearing a smock. There are six people in the picture and two horses.
“There would probably be another team with a horse to ensure that the hay supply kept the stack builders at work. I witnessed scenes like these circa 1950s at Crighton farm, which is now part of the Mossmorran complex.”