THIS year’s Bradworthy & District Ploughing Association is to celebrate 50 years of Leyland tractors with its traditional ploughing match on September 14 as part of the association’s ‘Best of British’ celebrations.

Providing some history to the infamous Leyland tractor James Poole, member of the Bradworthy and District Ploughing Association, said: “Did you know that Leyland tractors were not completely new? They were evolutions of the previous Nuffield tractors, which were built by Morris, the same company behind the Mini and Minor!”

He explained that the Nuffield tractor was launched in 1948 carrying the name of the Right Honourable Viscount Nuffield, William Morris. Morris was a hugely successful British car manufacturer, and the tractors were built in the former Wolseley Motor car factory in Birmingham. It was put into production as a way of keeping factories going after the cessation of the Second World War when munitions work had consumed British engineering companies for several years. The winding down of munitions work coincided with a huge need for tractors on British farms to keep on producing food in what were some pretty austere times for this country. The government encouraged the Morris Motors Company to divert some of their energies to produce agricultural tractors.

The Nuffield tractor was a very advanced design at the time and proved to be a huge success. It was produced in Birmingham during its first couple of decades or so and eventually became part of the British Motor Corporation after the Morris business became a major part of this conglomerate. The tractor design evolved over the years but kept its main design features with important add ons such as a ten speed gearbox. Production moved to Bathgate in Scotland in the 1960s and soon BMC became BLMC as the beginnings of what would become British Leyland.

In 1967 a distinctive new look was adopted by two new Nuffield tractors but they suffered from reliability issues which soon saw them changed dramatically into the first Leyland tractors, the 344 and 384 models introduced in 1969.

So, 50 years ago today the first Leyland tractors appeared and began a new era in tractor design, with the old Nuffield name disappearing and a new blue livery being adopted. Initially the old BMC engines were still used, although tweaked, but from 1972 new Leyland engines came on stream and this resulted in an excellent range of four and six cylinder tractors plus a three cylinder model using a Perkins engine.

The range once again slowly evolved over the years and this saw the introduction of a synchromesh transmission in 1978 and a new updated range in 1980. 

The end came in 1982 when the tractor division was sold off, although the new owners, Marshall, relocated the production line to Gainsborough & carried on with the old designs right up to 1990. Marshall were a long established manufacturer of tractors, being involved in steam engines in the 19th century.

James said: “As the evolution ended here in the 1990’s, we decided to also celebrate another hugely successful British tractor that began its life at the beginning of that decade — The JCB Fastrac! Our displays welcome all machine types of JCB from its beginnings right up to the modern range of agricultural and construction equipment, and as the iconic JCB digger used a Nuffield/Leyland skid unit at its heart it further knits the two brands to come together in September!

“We will be supported on the day by Robert Cole Limited, local JCB agriculture dealers who will showcase the latest offerings by JCB, including the Fastrac tractor, come along for your chance to sit in one!”

As well as the special tractor theme, this year’s ploughing competitions will host the Barum Mower Club with their crowd pleasing ‘Lawnmower Racing’. Rather far fetched from their humble grass chewing beginnings, these highly modified mowing machines will undoubtedly give some heart stopping moments as they compete against each other.

The craft tent will be back, along with hugely acclaimed artist Steven Binks from Suffolk with his range of prints and products.

The ploughing match will take place at Bowden Farm, Buckland Brewer by kind permission of Mr G Heywood & Son. The day will run from 10am to late.

Along with the traditional ploughing match and the new lawnmower racing, there will be a farm produce and vegetable show, craft tent, an after match tractor parade and a barbecue and evening entertainment from 7pm.

For more information visit Bradworthy and District Ploughing Association’s Facebook page or call James on 07815 118279.