For most of the 20th century fruit and flowers were king in Willingham. These would be harvested into standard boxes and then taken to Longstanton station for distribution to London or other major cities. Some people made their living by transporting boxes to and from the station. The boxes were wood and so would be returned empty after delivery of the produce. Here we see a cart loaded high with empty boxes on their way back. This picture is taken in front of the churchyard and the distinctive building on the right is recognizable today. This picture is scanned from a glass-plate negative providing amazing detail – right down to the buttons on the driver’s coat! The boxes are all marked with the same owner: “E. Holbrook, Manchester.”
January 2012
