All the villagers in Yalding have a small area of land next to their
house called a croft.
The villagers use this land to grow cabbages, onions, peas, beans,
leeks, parsnips,
garlic, parsley, sage and other herbs. Some people in Yalding also
grow fruit bushes on their croft.
Cabbages were first found
growing wild along the British coastline. Cabbages
have been grown by English farmers since the 1st century B.C.
Onions were originally
cultivated by people in Western Asia. Onions were first
brought to England by the Romans in the first century. Grated raw
onion was rubbed
on the skin of people suffering from arthritis and chilblains. People
in the 14th century also believed that onions mixed with honey prevented
plague and helped increase hair growth.
Beans were originally
cultivated in Italy. They were brought to England by the Romans in
the first century A.D. Romans discovered that only certain types of
bean grew in England. Both the field bean and the broad bean were
grown in England in the 14th century.
Peas were originally cultivated
in Western Asia. They were brought to England
by the Romans in the first century AD
Leeks were originally
cultivated by the Ancient Egyptians. Leeks were first brought to England
by the Romans in the first century AD Cooked leeks were used to treat
burns, abscesses and boils. A leek syrup was also used for coughs
and bronchitis.
When the Romans settled
in England they planted a large number of
fruit trees. The apples and pears from these trees were smaller, harder
and less sweet than
those we eat today. Medieval farmers tended to believe that
eating uncooked fruit made people ill. Some people also grew cherries,
plums, strawberries,
damsons and gooseberries on their croft.
1. The Romans first
settled in England in 43 AD Explain the influence that the Romans
had on English farming.
2. (a) Make a list of the
food eaten by people living in the 14th century. (b) Make a list of
the food that you eat. Give as many reasons as you
can why the 14th century list is different from your list.
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