John and Ann Granger have lived in Structon’s Heath on the outskirts of Great Witley for over 50 years. John grew up in Stourport-on-Severn and Ann in Cleobury Mortimer. In 1963 they moved from Far Forest to what was then a “tied” cottage in Structon’s Heath. They met working at Dingle Farm and have both been working in farming for over 50 years. They have worked with soft fruit, vegetables, poultry, sheep, cattle and horses over the years and have witnessed first hand the changes in agriculture over the decades.


In time, they were able to buy their “tied” cottage from Mr Cotton and later to buy some cattle and sheep from Mr Cowill and Ann has successfully showed her stock over the years. Ann is still working and John was working full-time into his early 80s.

John talks about the camaraderie and hardships of life in farming and Ann talks about the difficulties for working women in farming managing their jobs and their growing families.
John & Anns recording: (42 mins 31 secs)
Start | Topic | Period |
00:32 | Moving to a tied cottage in Structon’s Heath | 1960s |
03:15 | Working for Mr Cotton – poultry farming | 1960s/70s |
03:33 | John Granger – growing up in Stourport | 1950s |
04:16 | John Granger – working for Mr Colwill in his 80s | 2014 |
04:34 | Changes in farming | 1960s – present |
05:44 | Working with poultry, pigs and cattle | 1960s/1970s |
06:57 | Ann Granger – working in later life | 2000s |
07:21 | Ann Granger – working with soft fruit at Colwill’s; taking children to work | 1960s/70s |
07:53 | Working at Sinton Court; Mrs Bullock’s Welsh mountain ponies | 1980s |
08:35 | Taking children to work in the summer | 1960s/70s |
09:13 | Planting apple trees at Colwill’s | 1960s |
11:54 | “Buried” houses in Structon’s Heath | 1970s |
12:59 | Buying their tied cottage from Mr Colwill | 1980s |
14:20 | Ann Granger working life – 3 jobs at one time | 1970s |
15:54 | Transport changes over the years | 1970s-present |
16:32 | Structon’s Heath in the winter of 1963 | 1960s |
18:00 | Social life: cards, dice etc. | 1970s |
18:30 | Ann Granger – growing up in Cleobury Mortimer | 1950s |
19:03 | John Granger – parents in Stourport | 1940s/50s |
20:30 | Deliveries by grocer/greengrocer etc | 1960s/70s |
21:03 | Bringing up children while working on the farms | 1960s/70s |
23:15 | Ann Granger – working at Colwill’s with sheep and cattle | 1970s/80s |
25:10 | Buying 3 cows and a calf from Mr Colwill | 1980s |
26:10 | Leisure pursuits | 1970s – present |
27:00 | John Granger – growing own vegetables | 1970s/80s |
28:12 | Neighbours in Structon’s Heath | 1970s – present |
29:00 | Christmas over the years | 1970s – present |
31:00 | Schooling of children | 1970s |
31:31 | Hop picking as a child | 1950s |
32:18 | Working women on farms | 1960s/70s |
34:01 | Changes in farming – mechanisation; contractors; foreign labour | 1980s – present |
36:03 | Great Witley – village fete, village shop | 1970s – present |
37:44 | John and Ann Granger – early life after school; meeting at Colwill’s | 1960s/60s |
39:39 | Ann Granger – Working at Ballard’s Farm in Abberley | 1960s |
39:47 | Ann Granger – contracting TB; treatments at sanatorium near Martley | 1960s |
Leave a Reply