Hop Bine Collection
"Hop Bine: A Glimpse into the Vibrant Tradition of Hop Picking in 1930s Kent" Step back in time to the picturesque countryside of Kent
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"Hop Bine: A Glimpse into the Vibrant Tradition of Hop Picking in 1930s Kent" Step back in time to the picturesque countryside of Kent, where the annual ritual of hop picking brought together communities and families. In 1938, Maplescombe Farm in Farningham witnessed a bustling scene as locals gathered for hop picking season. The air was filled with excitement and anticipation as men, women, young, and old united to harvest this treasured crop. In East Peckham, on that memorable September day in 1938, a vibrant tapestry unfolded before our eyes. Amongst the golden fields stood an army of hop pickers diligently plucking hops from their bines. From dawn till dusk, they toiled tirelessly under the late summer sun; even children lent their tiny hands to help gather nature's bounty. But it wasn't just hard work that defined these times; adversity loomed over Beltring like a shadow. Gas masks were not only accessories but necessities for every woman working amidst the hops due to looming fears of war. With resilience etched on their faces, these brave women carried on undeterred by uncertainty. As we delve deeper into history's photo albums, we stumble upon heartwarming images capturing moments both poignant and serene. A tired hop picker finds solace beneath lush hop bushes—a temporary respite from laborious days spent among nature's embrace. Yet amidst all this hard work lay moments of pure joy—children frolicking through Shoreham's enchanting hop fields or engaging in playful escapades while their mothers worked diligently nearby at Beltring farm. These innocent souls found delight within simple pleasures offered by Mother Nature herself. These snapshots transport us back to an era when community bonds grew stronger during harvest seasons—the spirit of camaraderie interwoven with each delicate strand of a hop bine. It reminds us that despite hardships faced daily, hope and unity prevailed.