He started farming with 4 draught oxen. Allison well remembers the 4 wooden yokes hanging on baulks in the old stable.

Allison called him the cleverest man ever. He could sing many songs backwards. Marvellous with horses. One horse would kneel so that Johnson could mount. This horse bought from a circus. He could control horses with his voice only, no reins. Johnson known to have ridden to Guisborough to pay his rent at the estate office, then hunt all day with Cleveland and return in the evening. On one occasion he brushed two foxes. When the horse was shattered he dismounted and pursued the fox on foot.

Allison had Johnson’s small hunting horn in his possession. He also had a painting of Owlet Hall, a ruined farm near South House, which disappeared when the railway went through. (1885)

Allison loved his horses – even sleeping with them. During the 1^st World War, Allison was given a wooden gun by his father (William) to patrol the Beach. Allison remembers the first cars coming down to Boggle Hole but had insufficient power to get out. A team of horses was called in to do the job. He remembers one of his uncles riding from Hawsker to Newcastle in 15 hours. One of his forebears led all the material for the new school free of charge. They took in visitors in South House. Allison occasionally rode to see a cousin at Sledmere who worked on Sir Tatton Sykes’ estate. He was impressed with the set up. He had a little pony which he rode to Whitby where it would be stabled until his return late at night.

All farms has servant girls and hired lads – pay was £5 a year plus food and board.

One of the best Allison had was a lad who walked from Grangetown looking for work, begging for food and shelter on the way. A village shopkeeper sent the lad over. The lad joined the navy in the First World War. 40 years later [a man] came up to Allison and asked him if he remembered him. Allison had wondered whether the lad had survived the War. He had retired to Melbourne, Australia. Although his view on hired lads in general was not too good (similar to my Grandad Johnson was warned not to have anything to do with red animals [?] with white socks. However he bought one at Ruswarp market which had just calven [?]. He said it gave water not milk. Not worth ??. Once he bought a North Cave Plough off Watson (Joiners) of Sneaton who had a good reputation. He maintains that the coulter was inches out and he had to put it right himself. He remembers cows preferred drinking from a mucky pool **** than from the Beck. His stock came down with foot and mouth disease. He brought all of the beasts round by burning their feed and feeding them bran mash. They lost a lot of condition and it took a long time, but the beasts were saved.

Allison and his father once a year would visit the fat stock market at York by train. Allison was disgusted when the line closed. The only visitor who ever grabbed a bucket and helped milking was George (my Grandad – this is ambiguous: Allison did not have a Grandfather called George. Was it the interviewer’s Grandfather?).

When South House was rebuilt and re-thatched, the lads slept in the stable.

Rebecca [Mennell] was a big and strong woman remembered by Allison in her old age, sitting by the fire at Harton House Farm just as Allison is as I talked to him.

When it was suggested that South House should have a extra door at the front, Johnson said one door is good enough for me and that’s that!

Mary Parkinson Hutton/Farsyde [William’s sister: 1854-1935 ID625] was apparently rather aloof and did not mix much. The fact that Hannah named her daughter Mary Parkinson implies, indicates that they were related to Mary Parkinson the wife of Isaac Hutton, married 1811. Hannah born 1817 (also note Richard Parkinson, son of Johnson) [The interviewer appears to be alerting us to the complex family history relating to Hannah Hutton]. ** Cedric [Presumably Cedric Hutton ID683] farms Mill Beck Farm now, son of Halder [Alder Hutton 1905-1991 ID388] son of John [Hutton 1866-1908 ID592]. Dennis [ID266], Cedric’s brother died age 42 years / was never very strong and Tiny Wellburn [Bettina Collinson Wellburn 1896-1988 ID568] Allison’s [second] wife. It is thought that Halder [Alder Hutton] and his children inherited large sums of money. I should guess from the [line missing].