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This story was submitted by Allen Buckroyd, who compiled ‘Great Baddow Oral History’, published in December 2003. The book contained this contribution from Peggy Bradley and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the terms and conditions.

Peggy Bradley — Rationing and a Cow
Even after the war, in 1946, we were still rationed for various things. You could only be registered with one milkman; you couldn’t get your milk just anywhere. At this time, the milkman always left our gate open. My father got so cross because the milkman had let the dog out into the road, so Dad asked him not to call anymore. The milkman said, “you won’t be able to get your milk anywhere else”. My father, not to be outdone, went to Danbury Park and bought a Guernsey cow. Beyond number 22, Beehive Lane was a space, just before the gravel pit. He virtually built a cowshed round the cow. It shows how Beehive Lane has altered; there were grass verges then, as you went towards Galleywood. Each morning he would tether the cow to graze on different areas of the grass verges. My mother had a busy time making butter. My father didn’t like to be short of sugar, so a bit of bartering went on. Eventually the cow was sold.

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