To Plough (Monday) or not to plough

As the tinsel is untangled from the cat, the baubles go back in the loft, and the new year kicks into gear, last Monday marked the return of a centuries-old tradition in rural England: the noble art of getting muddy. While we didn’t don costumes or hitch up a plough here at The Farm at Avebury, Plough Monday remains a nod to the rich history of the countryside around us.

Farm workers gather outside the farmhouse in the 1920’s

Plough Monday, falling on the first Monday after Epiphany (January 6th), was the farmers’ way of saying, “Alright, that’s enough mince pies—back to work!” It heralded the start of the agricultural year, when ploughs were sharpened, tools dusted off, and fields readied for the hard graft ahead. It’s a tradition steeped in history, as communities gathered to mark the transition from festive rest to productive labor.

Historically, Plough Monday wasn’t all about toil. Villages celebrated with colorful festivities, which often featured men dressed as "plough boys" hauling elaborately decorated ploughs through the streets. These plough boys performed songs and dances, cheerfully holding out their hats (or mugs) for coins, ale, or maybe a bit of both. Think of it as a mobile karaoke session with added mud.

One key part of the tradition was the blessing of the plough, a ritual meant to ensure fertile fields and a fruitful harvest. This wasn’t just practical—it was a way to reinforce the community’s connection to the land and to each other, a shared hope for prosperity in the year ahead. The celebrations, music, and camaraderie made the return to work a little easier to bear (though likely harder on the liver).

Today, while Plough Monday’s customs are less commonly observed, the sentiment behind it remains deeply relevant. Here at The Farm at Avebury, we’re inspired by the history and heritage of our surroundings, even if we’re not hauling ploughs through the village. It’s a reminder of the timeless rhythm of rural life and the enduring connection between people and the land.

Norman Hues with Granny Roger (and some enormous sows!)

Why don’t farmers plough so much anymore, you ask? One reason is that it’s an incredibly time consuming and expensive activity. Whilst it makes a very pleasing job it’s not always necessary and can be damaging to the soil as well a releasing more carbon than other methods. Many farmers now use minimum or no till methods that are much cheaper and better for the soil. Less soil disturbance sees fewer weed seeds germinate to complete with the crops and also help improve soil structure and reduce carbon emissions. It is also cheaper, easier and uses much less diesel than ploughing. There are though some scenarios where you’d choose to bury a heavy weed burden with the plough or break up a compacted field. We now plough perhaps 20% of our land each year whereas in years gone by that would have been 100%. It’s fair to say that it’s a dwindling art but definitely not a dying one. We were thrilled to host the Avebury District Ploughing Match here in 2023 and it’s certainly one of my favourite events of the year. Over 80 plough men and women turned up to compete in a variety of classes throughout a busy morning of activity.

One of my favourite dates in the diary… The Ploughing Match! Look out for it in September.

So, as we dig into the new year (quite literally, in some cases where the fields are really wet), we raise a toast to the farmers of old and their muddy, musical, and slightly ale-fueled kickoff to the year. Here’s to a fruitful season ahead—and perhaps a modern twist on Plough Monday: less mud, more cake?