Archive images capture farming at the heart of North Yorkshire life
Throughout the centuries, one profession has been a constant across North Yorkshire’s treasured landscapes.
Discover thousands of fascinating images from North Yorkshire’s past. Browse our extensive collection and own a piece of history today.
Farming has helped shape both the countryside’s land and its communities and here we take a look back in our archives at some of the images that capture rural life, spanning the generations.
There are photos from highlights of the countryside calendar, such as the Great Yorkshire Show. One image shows a girl with her pedigree pig at the showpiece event in Harrogate during the mid‑20th century.
There are also moments capturing adults and children alike tending to livestock and farmyard animals.
One young boy eagerly holds out a bottle to feed newborn lambs at Golden Square Farm in Oswaldkirk - an endearing image that highlights how farming remains a business, but one with care for the countryside and nature at its heart.
North Yorkshire Archives holds thousands of historic photos - you can browse the collection through the online shop.
If you have any further information about any of the images on this page, our archivists would be keen to hear about it. Please email yny@northyorks.gov.uk.
Mr Hague using his farm horse to bring in the hay at Farndale in the mid-20th century. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
Two men collecting milk in Hawes while using hand carts to transport the budget cans along the road during the mid-20th century. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
Farmers and traders look on as the cattle are paraded around the ring at the cattle market in Boroughbridge in the middle of the 20th century. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
A young girl parades with her pedigree pig at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate during the mid-20th century. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
A young boy feeds newborn lambs at Golden Square Farm in Oswaldkirk during the middle of the 20th century. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
An Easingwold farmer ensures that his Highland cattle are well fed. A photo take in the middle of the 20th century from the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
Fiddle drill sowing in the middle of the 20th century. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
A boy is pictured feeding small chickens at Scruton around the turn of the 20th century.
Miss Garside is pictured feeding hens in 1915. From a collection of photographs of the Dunsforth area by local amateur photographer Louisa Kruckenberg.
Land girls are pictured at High Birkby farm around 1944. This image is part of the Ripon Re-Viewed collection created by Ripon Civic Society and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).
Miss Langley with a farm hand and prisoner of war having a tea break during the harvest season circa 1944. This image is part of the Ripon Re-Viewed collection created by Ripon Civic Society and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).
Mr Dawson of Upper Dunsforth and his gang of potato scratters are pictured in November 1921.
Mr and Mrs Bass and a toddler are pictured feeding the hens in Whixley in 1921.
The last cattle market to be held at Knaresborough High Street in 1906.