Lower Froyle at the turn of the century

Lower Froyle at the turn of the century, looking to the south

In 1800 there were 141 acres of hops in Froyle and in 1855 a village directory stated that “there are hop-yards on all the farms.” Remnants of the industry, which has almost died out, can still be seen around the village in the form of oast houses - once used for drying the hops. Children were expected to join their families for hop picking and everyone earned 1¼d a bushel. It was hard work but the children particularly liked going up to the kilns when the hops were drying and roasting apples and potatoes in the fires.

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