The history of watercress
Watercress has been grown in the UK for centuries and specifically on our farms since the 1850s.
These are some historical photographs from our extensive archive, with a brief explanation of what is happening in each. Click on the photo to enlarge it, or click the play button below to play the audio file. The voice is Mr William Jesty who kindly allowed us to use the images and his words to take us back to the pioneering days!
The photographs cover the period from the 1900s to the 1960s. Over the years we have adapted our business to meet the needs of independent retailers right through to supermarkets.
Dodding’s Farm Watercress Railway
‘The Watercress Queen’ locomotive was built by John Jesty in 1948 for the pre-existing watercress railway at Dodding’s Farm, built in the 1920s.
The Dodding’s Farm Watercress Railway tells the story of this impressive locomotive and the people that built it.
