The Chronicle
February 1353
21 February 1353
Rain on 21 February, and the work moved back under cover. Henry Cooper and Peter Miller were both at the Brewers' barn threshing, the same job that kept them busy through most of January.
22 February 1353
Rain today, and the work moved indoors. Henry Cooper and Peter Miller spent it at the Brewers' barn, threshing, as they did yesterday. The flails keep going while the fields are too wet for anything else.
23 February 1353
Rain again today, and the threshing went on indoors at the Brewers' barn. Henry Cooper and Peter Miller were both there to help, as they were yesterday and the day before.
24 February 1353
Rain today, and the threshing went on anyway. Thomas atte Well and Henry Cooper both spent the day at the Brewers' barn, working under cover on the grain. It's St Matthias's Day, and Henry has now helped the Brewers on four days running.
26 February 1353
Rain today, and the threshing at the Brewers' barn went on regardless. Henry Cooper and Peter Miller were both there again, as they have been on most days this week.
27 February 1353
Overcast again today, and the threshing at the Brewers' barn went on. Henry Cooper and Peter Miller were both there, as they have been most days this week. Threshing is the slow work of beating the grain out of the stored sheaves with flails, and it fills the weeks before spring sowing.
28 February 1353
Sowing has begun in Ambermead. Adam Brewer spent the day helping the priest's household get their seed in, and Peter Miller lent a hand with the Brewers' own sowing. It was a cloudy day, and the threshing that kept the barns busy all winter has given way to work out in the fields.