Tools & tillage: a journal on the history of the implements of cultivation and other agricultural processes (4.1980/1983)

THE ‘ROTHERHAM’ PLOUGH
New Evidence on Its Original Manufacture
and Method of Distribution

By
Geoffrey Marshall

It is evident that the remarkable ideas behind
the design of the Rotherham plough have
been of the greatest importance for changes
in and the development of new plough-types
at the end of the 18th century in many
European countries.
In Tools and Tillage Vol. 111:3, 1978
G. Marshall’s first study on the ‘Rotherham’
Plough was published (Marshall 1978).
In the first half of the 18th century Joseph
Foljambe of Eastwood and Disney Stany-
forth of Firbeck applied for and were
granted letters patent for a plough which in
time was to become the basis for many metal
ploughs of the 19th century. Evidence for
the invention and its diffusion has already
been discussed (Marshall 1978). This article
is to examine several new pieces of evidence
which throw light upon the relationship of
the partners, their manufacturing tech-
niques, commercial organisation and dis-
tribution of the product. The main new
sources of evidence are a copy of an inden-
ture of agreement found in the Tibbits col-
lection at Sheffield City Library while the
second major new piece of evidence is a copy
of Disney Stanyforth’s printed advertise-
ment for his plough to be seen at the Oxford
County Record Office. Other primary
sources used are the Firbeck Hall deeds,

“No wheels support the diving pointed share;
No groaning ox is doom’d to labour there;
No helpmates teach the docile steed his road;
(Alike unknown the plow-boy and the goad);
But, unassisted through each toilsome day,
With smiling brow the plowman cleaves his
»1
way,
From “The Farmer’s Boy”, Robert Bloom-
field 1798.
deposited at Sheffield City Library and land
deeds registered at the County Record Of-
fice, Wakefield.
Pre-patent Agreement
The beginning of the indented articles of
agreement, dated 29th January 1730/1, made
between Foljambe and Stanyforth, referred
to a previous agreement between the two
made on the 29th July 1729. A summary of
the original agreement is as follows:
i. Joseph Foljambe had invented a new
type of plough.
ii. Disney Stanyforth should try to patent
this plough at his own expense.
iii. Joseph Foljambe should do what he
could to help secure the patent.
iv. For an immediate payment of 5 shillings
and a further £150 within one month of
the granting of the patent Foljambe
would give Stanyforth full and sole
rights of the patent.