Summary of A most unpleasant creature and Jacks Battlesden Carts

00:00:00 - 00:20:00

This video looks at the history of horse-drawn carriages and how they were used in the past. It also covers the different types of whips that were used to drive the carriages.

• 00:00:00 The video features an Old Country Music performance of a song called "A most unpleasant creature" which includes a drawing of an acarus, or "the unclean." The acarus is shown to be smaller than a pinhead, and is only visible if one has good eyesight. English farmers take a lot of stick, chiefly because they are efficient, but the Russians may envy us because we can produce corn faster than they can and we also get rid of diseases we used to have, like TB, contagious abortion, and acarus. However, in 1952 acarus returned to England from a foreign country, and sheep dip became necessary again. Today, sheep dip is done using mobile sheep dippers, which are owned by self-employed shepherds. The Ministry man supervises their work, making sure the dilution of the dip is correct and that the dipping is done properly.
• 00:05:00 This video shows how Rams are used to dip sheep in a sheep dip. The Rams are efficient at their job and the ewe's are eventually dunked in the dip. After dipping, the Rams pack up and the job of the ministry man is done.
• 00:10:00 This transcript excerpt is from a video about the history of horse-drawn carriages, which date back to the 18th century. The video describes how people were judged by their carriages in the 1800s, and how the turnout horse harness and carriage was a phrase that was always used. It also explains how turnout sales still take place in the UK, and how it is dangerous for someone to go to a horse sale.
• 00:15:00 This video covers the history and benefits of the Battlesden Cart, a small, elegant carriage that was popular in the early 1900s. It was designed by two or three people at Battlesden, a location on the Kent, Sussex border. The carriage was originally built for a farmer, but later became popular with women who wanted to be able to get decorously and comfortably into the cart. The carriage has an extra seat on the driver's side, a low step, and a mud guard that runs the whole way down the side.
• 00:20:00 This video takes a look at the difference between a man's Battlesden cart and a ladies Battlesden cart, and discusses the different types of whips that were used in olden days. The bow top whip is made of white holly and has a silver end with the owner's initials on it, while the drop thong whip is made of steel and has a whip chord that goes all the way up. The coach whip is made of leather and has a lead loading to balance it, while the bow top whip is made of Wangi Cane and is taper-dyed to have a spring and a taper. The final whip shown in the video is the Peterborough whip, which is a heavy buckthorn whip with a silver end and the owner's initials on it.