Milk churn stand
{{Short description|Raised platform for milk churns}}
File:Milk churns on stand, Hollybed Street - geograph.org.uk - 833701.jpg
File:Cornish Milk Churn Stand before restoration.jpg
File:Restored Cornish Milk Churn Stand.jpg
File:Mjölkkannor lastas vid mjölkbrygga i Pålsböle.jpg, in the 1960s.]]
A milk churn stand was a standard-height platform on which milk churns would be placed for collection by cart or lorry. Some were simple and made of wood, but the majority were built from stone or concrete blocks. They were once a common roadside sight in Britain in areas which carried out dairy farming, but collection of milk churns from stands ceased in Britain in 1979. Many have survived, some being renovated to memorialise the practice, while others have been dismantled or left to decay.
Description
File:Churn stand at Llechweddystrad - geograph.org.uk - 139650.jpg
File:Waites House Farm - geograph.org.uk - 178976.jpg
Milk churn stands could be made of wood, or were more permanent structures built from concrete or stone blocks. Many were simple cubic structures.{{cite web|title=People's Collection Wales: Milk churn stand for Cwmhwylog farm|url= https://www.casgliadywerin.cymru/items/14012|accessdate=29 September 2016}} Some had steps leading up to them, or just a foothole to reach the platform{{cite web|title=Llanteg History Society: Llanteg Milk Stands - A thing of the past?|date= 3 September 2010|url= http://llanteghistorysociety.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/llanteg-milk-stands-thing-of-past.html|accessdate=29 September 2016}} while some could be considerably more elaborate.{{Coflein|desc=Milk churn stand, Old Abbey Farm, Pontrhydfendigaid|num=308020|accessdate=29 September 2016}} The simple purpose of the stand was to facilitate collection of milk churns by cart{{cite web|title=Rooksbridge: Cheddar Valley Dairy|url= http://www.rooksbridge.org.uk/intakecvd.htm|accessdate=29 September 2016}} or lorry and so were built at a convenient height for easy transfer. A conical {{convert|15|impgal|L}} churn weighing {{convert|20|lb}} would weigh {{convert|170|lb}} full. A later, standard, and lighter churn might contain {{convert|11|impgal|L}},
of milk, weighing about {{convert|120|lb}} full. Once the full churns had been removed they were replaced by the haulier with empty ones for refilling by the next collection time. The full churns would then be transported directly by road to the dairy, or indirectly by rail.
The origin of the milk churn stand probably dates back at least into the 19th century when commercial trade in milk became widespread,{{cite web|title=Yorkshire Dales traditional farm building survey (page 24)|url=http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/living-and-working/historic-buildings/traditional-farm-buildings/traditionalfarmbuildingsurvey-yorkshire-dales.pdf|accessdate=29 September 2016|archive-date=10 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510110759/http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/living-and-working/historic-buildings/traditional-farm-buildings/traditionalfarmbuildingsurvey-yorkshire-dales.pdf|url-status=dead}} dairies became larger enterprises and widespread distribution was facilitated by rail and improving road networks.
Cessation
In the United Kingdom churn collection ceased in 1970{{cite web|title=Hansard, 10 July 1978|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1978/jul/10/milk-collection|work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|date=10 July 1978|access-date=28 September 2016}} and all milk was collected by tanker; thus, the stands were no longer needed.
Fate
File:Milk churn stand, Blaenffos (Tony Holkham).jpg
File:Kilkiffeth Farm entrance - geograph.org.uk - 455274.jpg
Many milk churn stands would have been lost during road improvement schemes owing to their proximity to the roadside but many were left in situ to slowly decay; thus there are few original wooden examples. However, many made from more durable materials such as concrete or stone have survived and can be seen throughout the country and, indeed, in other countries. Some have been renovated as reminders of the former widespread practice,{{cite web|title=Ceredigion County Council Museum Collection: Milk churn|url=http://pilgrim.ceredigion.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2316|accessdate=27 September 2016|archive-date=12 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012184010/http://pilgrim.ceredigion.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2316|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Ceredigion County Council Museum Collection: Milk churn stand|url=https://pilgrim.ceredigion.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2760|accessdate=27 September 2016|archive-date=12 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012194121/https://pilgrim.ceredigion.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2760|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=People's Collection Wales: Milk churn collection|url=https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/18572|accessdate=27 September 2016}} while some replica stands have been erected for the same reason in stone{{cite news|publisher=Somerset live|title=Farmers remember dairymen with replica churn stand|url=http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/farmers-remember-dairymen-replica-churn-stand/story-12293638-detail/story.html|accessdate=29 September 2016}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (such as the example at Wadenhoe) and the reinstatement or removal of some has even been the subject of planning application.{{cite web|title=Fylde Council Planning Application|url=http://www3.fylde.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_FYLDE_DCAPR_45113|accessdate=29 September 2016}}{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|title=Lake District National Park Authority: Delegated report|url=http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/swiftlg/TempMedia/58139-183186.pdf|accessdate=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001194210/http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/swiftlg/TempMedia/58139-183186.pdf|archive-date=1 October 2016|url-status=dead}} Some milk churn stands have been recorded as historical monuments by regional bodies{{Coflein|desc=Milk Churn Stand, Glannant, Llangeitho|num=414631|accessdate=26 September 2016}} and the National Archives.{{cite web|title=The National Archives: Cranbrook: Little Paddocks Farm - milk churn stand. WE/5/54/113|url= http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/a2f84773-acb4-496c-bfef-fa0af67430c0|accessdate=29 September 2016}}
References
{{Commons category|position=right|Milk churn stands}}
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