Comments on: Hopping Photography

By: terry offord

terry offord — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 12:25:23 +0000

I’ve never heard of the Irish being mentioned in the history of the hop picking.Where my family picked at Buston Manor farm in Yalding there were brick huts over the other side of the common that were always known as the Irish huts and infact my old great aunt Nell was born in one. I was born in 1950 so it must have happened in the 19th century.

By: Jan

Jan — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 10:09:50 +0000

The hopping songs…

Our lovely hops, our lovely hops,
When the measurer he comes round
Pick ’em up Pick ’em up off the ground
When he sees you measuring …
You ll never when to stop!

Will have to check now!

By: Paul Shearsmith

Paul Shearsmith — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 17:23:45 +0000

Have you come across East London artist May Ayres? Born: Lynda May Ayres, 1949 West London.
May Ayres has been living and working in the East End of London since 1975.
Check out
http://mayayres.com

Cheers

Paul

By: Phil Maxwell

Phil Maxwell — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 11:55:17 +0000

The hop pickers account book reminds me of the ‘zero hours’ contracts of today. Poignant photographs. It’s brilliant they have been preserved.

By: Terry boyle

Terry boyle — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 09:05:58 +0000

Had a wonderful time as a kid going hopping (Bashall park ) near five oak green,my parents,grandparents ,aunts,cousins,love to go again

By: John Campbell

John Campbell — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 17:06:24 +0000

It was common for the farmers to only deal with the matriarch of the groups and the whole picking system was built on the women and children’s labour. Many of the rural pubs local to the fields would arrange makeshift ‘public’ bars for the male pickers to drink in as they were regarded as rough and rowdy by many of the country folk and not generally welcome in the villages. It was not uncommon for the fathers to return to the east end leaving Mother and kids behind for the season to earn what would be the most significant income of the year and for many the money needed to enjoy something special Christmas.

By: Annie G

Annie G — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 10:58:57 +0000

I would happily go back in time and spend a few weeks hopping. They look so happy and healthy and well organised together.

By: Jamie Surman

Jamie Surman — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 07:56:12 +0000

What wonderful photographs – an incredible document of social history. Makes me very sad that this culture has been lost from the East End and the communities with them…

By: John Barrett

John Barrett — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 07:35:22 +0000

GA absolutely wonderful the perfect dream ticket blog. It was a nice working holiday for East Enders. First they would load up their Hopping Box with utensil’s etc. items needed for an extended shortish stay. It was sent ahead two weeks before on the train. Yes the whole family would go into the hop fields the children would pick as well all were on piece – work. It wasn’t all work., they formed migrant social groups with big sing alongs. So the short season ended also their life in the hop fields, with the introduction of mechanization. In the end its all about !beer. So I raise my glass to the East Enders they were at their best when field working down in Kent. Snatch of their song ‘When I’m a hopping down in Kent’ – bye field people. Poet John.

By: Paddy Keogh

Paddy Keogh — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 07:02:24 +0000

Fantastic photos,poignant snapshots of a lost era