Records of Knockaloe Experimental Farm: Cow Shed and Dairy File

This series comprises 1 file consisting of the working papers relating to the development and equipping of the cow sheds and dairy building at Knockaloe Experimental Farm to bring it in line with standards set down in the Milk and Dairies Act, 1934. Notable enclosures include:

• Correspondence with builders, contractors and engineers;
• Building specifications;
• Milking machinery specifications;
• Estimates, quotes and invoices for milking machinery and building materials;
• A blueprint, dated 26 Jul 1944, entitled, 'Modified proposed layout of Gascoignes Milking Plant - Knockaloe, Peel, Isle of Man';
• A drawing, dated 13 Jul 1944, entitled, 'Proposed layout of Gascoignes Milking Plant - Knockaloe, Peel, Isle of Man'.

The Experimental Farm at Knockaloe can trace its origins to provisions set out in the Agriculture and Rural Industries Act, 1914. In the early 1920s, the Board of Agriculture purchased the site of the old Knockaloe internment camp - which had been vacated by the last internees in Oct 1919 - with monies released by the Noble's Trustees.

The Board proceeded to spend the remainder of the Noble's monies on a clean-up project with a view to readying the site for a return to agricultural usage. A number of arable and pastoral experiments were later based on the site. The Experimental Farm was closed in 2010 by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, a successor of the Board of Agriculture.

Series comprises 1 file. During rehousing, the file - which was oversized - was rehoused into 3 sub-folders. The original order, a rough descending chronology, has been preserved across each of the constituent sub-folders.

This series is open. For information on visiting the Isle of Man Public Record Office please see our website: www.gov.im/pro

Please see our website for catalogues: www.gov.im/pro

Series level description created 23 Jun 2017, Gavin Rowan, IOMPRO.

Crown copyright (duration - 125 years from the end of the calendar year of production).

Selected for permanent preservation in Nov 2015, Angela Skitt, IOMPRO.

The records which comprise this series were originally consigned to the Public Record Office under section 3(8) of the Public Records Act, 1999 by the Agriculture directorate of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture on the 21 Mar 2011. The records were fully transferred to Public Record Office under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act, 1999 on the 15 Jan 2016 by the Agriculture directorate of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

No accruals are expected.

Also held at the Isle of Man Public Record Office:

• S70 - Records of Knockaloe Experimental Farm: Sales Ledgers;
• S71 - Records of Knockaloe Experimental Farm: Purchase Ledgers;
• S72 - Records of Knockaloe Experimental Farm: Seed Potato Sales Records;
• S73 - Records of Knockaloe Experimental Farm: Weekly Wage Ledgers;
• S74 - Records of Knockaloe Experimental Farm: Experiment Files;
• S76 - Records of Knockaloe Experimental Farm: Calving Register;
• S77 - Records of Knockaloe Experimental Farm: Field Cultivation Ledger;
• S78 - Records of Knockaloe Experimental Farm: Tractor Contract Ledger;
• S79 - Records of Knockaloe Experimental Farm: Poultry Sales Ledger;
• S80 - Records of Knockaloe Experimental Farm: Financial Account Book.