Feeing markets and working conditions for farmservants.
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1985.141.A17; SA1985.141.B1; SA1985.141.B2
Original Tape ID
Summary
Feeing markets and working conditions for farmservants.
There used to be a feeing [hiring] market in Keith, about a week before the term days at Whitsun and Martinmas. The farmservants bargained with the farmers for the next six month's work, striking hands when they agreed, and the farmservant received a shilling in arles [earnest money]. A cart would be sent by the farmer for the farmservant's belongings. Departing workers had to be out of their accommodation by midday on term day.
Farmservants sometimes stayed in one place for a long time if they and the farmer got on. Farmservants were sometimes apprehensive about not getting a fee, especially in the late 1920s. A single farmservant could go back to his family, but a married man could lose his home. Women were also fee'd, to work in the farm kitchen.
Recording Location
County - Inverness-shire
Island - Skye
Parish - Sleat
Village/Place - Ardvasar
Item Location
County - Banffshire
Parish - Keith
Village/Place - Keith
Language
English, Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good