The National Farm Survey, 1941–1943
The National Farm Survey was created during the Second World War to increase food production and to plan for post-war agriculture. Maps and forms of this ‘Second Domesday’ give details of over 300,000 farms, and record farmers and agricultural practice across England and Wales.
Map for Doddinghurst in Essex
Date: 1941–1943
Catalogue reference: View the record MAF 73/13/71 in the catalogue
This map was prepared in conjunction with the creation of individual farm records for the National Farm Survey undertaken by the Ministry of Food in 1941–1943.
The area of each farm is indicated on the map by a colour wash, and its code number is added in black ink. In this example Summer Farm, number 12/58, is outlined and coloured in red.
Map for Mayfield in East Sussex
Date: 1941–1943
Catalogue reference: View the record MAF 73/41/29 in the catalogue
The survey’s maps showed the extent of each farm, or other agricultural holding, with its boundaries. They also gave details of areas of woodland – on this record, two large areas of woodland can be seen on the right hand side of the map.
Individual Farm Record for the Reformatory School at Pinhoe in Devon
Date: 1941–1943
Catalogue reference: View the record MAF 32/687/445 in the catalogue
Out of four forms used in the National Farm Survey, three were mailed to farmers as part of the farm census undertaken in June 1941.
The fourth form, an example of which is shown here, was the actual farm survey completed by inspectors in the field. As you can see here, the survey included within its scope many places which we would not normally consider to be farms.
Individual Farm Record for Marsh Farm on the King's Estates at Sandringham in Norfolk
Date: 1941–1943
Catalogue reference: View the record MAF 32/735/243 in the catalogue
The individual farm reports created by inspectors in the field as part of the National Farm survey are a wonderful source of local and agricultural history for the period. They provide us with details of how land was held (as tenant or owner), the size of farms, the crops under cultivation, the number of horses and the livestock kept.
They also detail the extent of mechanisation and sources of power and water, as well as the labour used, the condition of the land, buildings and fences, the prevalence of pests, and the competence of the farmer.
Here, as was common on many of the farms on the King's estates at Sandringham, we can see pheasants listed as a pest in the inspector's notes about infestations.
