The Dairy, Laundry and Beyond

Since the early 19th century the Nevilles had kept a pedigree herd of Alderney cattle, which produced a creamy milk that was excellent for butter making. The dairy registers kept by Lord Braybrooke’s land steward, William Hosley, show that the dairy produced over 3,700 quarts (over 4,200 litres or 1,100 US gallons) of cream and 4,000 lb (over 1,800 kg) of butter from September 1881 to August 1882. The two were very interested in the scientific analysis of milk yields, collecting detailed information about the quantity and quality of milk produced by each cow and how this varied over the course of the year and according to their diet. In 1882 their dairy registers received a special award from the British Dairy Farmers’ Association (now the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers).