Youngsters learning how to milk a cow. The information with the picture is "Milking school, 1930." The location is unknown, but it's one of a number of pictures which were hanging on the wall for a number of years at the former Three Crowns pub in Wellington until it closed in 2013, so may be Wellington area. The pictures ended up in the Oddfellows Arms, in the High Street, having been bought in a charity sale.placeholder image
Youngsters learning how to milk a cow. The information with the picture is "Milking school, 1930." The location is unknown, but it's one of a number of pictures which were hanging on the wall for a number of years at the former Three Crowns pub in Wellington until it closed in 2013, so may be Wellington area. The pictures ended up in the Oddfellows Arms, in the High Street, having been bought in a charity sale. | Johann Cowley

17 pictures bringing back memories of rural life in Shropshire

By Toby Neal
Published 4th Nov 2026, 08:20 GMT

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Celebrating life and work in the glorious Shropshire countryside

If you ask an outsider to describe Shropshire, they will probably conjure up a vision of a rural county.

Which is, of course, true, despite increasing and never-ending urbanisation. But like everything else, the landscape and agriculture evolve and change, and old ways fade and sometimes die out completely.

Join us on a trip down memory lane - a country lane in this case - as we take a look at some of the people and places of yesteryear who have been part of the tapestry of rural life over past decades.

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It's 6.30 in the morning and the cowman at the farm of J Gough and Son near Newport is busy milking the herd. Unfortunately he is unidentified. The strictest rules of hygiene were applied in the production and distribution of milk. The farm was Bromstead Hall Farm, Moreton.

13. An early start

It's 6.30 in the morning and the cowman at the farm of J Gough and Son near Newport is busy milking the herd. Unfortunately he is unidentified. The strictest rules of hygiene were applied in the production and distribution of milk. The farm was Bromstead Hall Farm, Moreton. | Express & Star archive

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This came originally from Mrs Beryl Brown, of Shifnal, and was taken at Ketley Town Farm. She told us at the time: "This shows my father Bill Savage, centre, getting ready for milking with two Sunday afternoon visitors. Notice the old-fashioned milk churns." Although undated it will be late 1920s or early 1930s. The Shropshire Star offices (now disappeared) at Ketley were built on, or close to, the site.

14. All set for milking

This came originally from Mrs Beryl Brown, of Shifnal, and was taken at Ketley Town Farm. She told us at the time: "This shows my father Bill Savage, centre, getting ready for milking with two Sunday afternoon visitors. Notice the old-fashioned milk churns." Although undated it will be late 1920s or early 1930s. The Shropshire Star offices (now disappeared) at Ketley were built on, or close to, the site. | Beryl Brown

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Dalia, a British saanen milker goat which had won the milking competition in Shrewsbury three weeks previously, was enjoying another outing when she appeared at Newport Show in July 1981. Dalia belonged to Jane Moore, of Howle, near Newport, and is seen with Sue Lott, who was showing her.

15. Bidding to be the greatest goat

Dalia, a British saanen milker goat which had won the milking competition in Shrewsbury three weeks previously, was enjoying another outing when she appeared at Newport Show in July 1981. Dalia belonged to Jane Moore, of Howle, near Newport, and is seen with Sue Lott, who was showing her. | Shropshire Star

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A cobbler at work, in this case a Mr Whitney, of Brockton, near Much Wenlock, in 1920. He only had one leg.

16. The shoe goes on

A cobbler at work, in this case a Mr Whitney, of Brockton, near Much Wenlock, in 1920. He only had one leg. | Charlie Foulkes

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