FARMING of yesteryear will be brought back to life with a new exhibition opening at Carhampton Recreation Centre on Saturday, April 1, illustrating changes in local agriculture with photographs and artefacts.

The exhibition will focus on village farming over the centuries from the Iron Age through the Anglo Saxon and English feudal systems, up to the present day. It will be held in a building which was once part of Eastern Farm and is now the recreation centre.

Carhampton was once a major agricultural community - in the 19th century the village had nine farms and further tenements. Now only two farms remain.

A recreation centre spokesperson said: “A recent chance meeting with the grandsons of Fred Adams who farmed at Carhampton’s Eastbury and Eastern farms until the 1960’s, led to a treasure trove of photos and artefacts discovered in the attic of their mother Jose, a keen historian.

“Some of these will feature in the exhibition.

“We would like to hear of more farming-related stories and anecdotes to include in the exhibition. Please contact Jane Jones (01643 821620) for any agricultural stories, artefacts, photographs or memories that we could use.”

The opening event, at 2pm on April 1, will feature a guest speaker, Roger Richmond, chair of the Dunster Show, talking about his lifetime in farming.

The talk will be followed by a cream tea and time to explore the exhibition. Admission on the door is £5 (including tea).

The exhibition will be followed by a further event at the recreation centre on Sunday April 30, featuring tractors and historic farm machinery.