LOCAL history group Auld Earlston have turned back the clock yet again to look at harvesting in days gone by.

While modern machinery makes short work of bringing in the hay, it was back-breaking for the hundreds of labourers in previous centuries.

Susan Donaldson, archive secretary at Auld Earlston, told us: "The 1791 Statistical Account for Scotland said of Earlston 'Horses are absolutely necessary in this part of the country, for it is by them the farmers labour their farms and drive their corn to market'.

"A quote which remained true for well over a century until mechanization came in."

Earlston, like many other Borders communities, held its own hiring fairs as labourers were found for surrounding farms.

Susan added: "Hiring fairs, held in the Market Square, were important events where men and women  farmworkers would gather to bargain with prospective farmers for work, and hopefully secure a position for the following six-to-12 months.  

"Hiring fairs were also social occasions with a rare opportunity for friends and family to meet and enjoy the side shows and stalls."

Many of the men who were hired at the fairs would also secure work for their wives, known as bondagers.

Bondagers, with their distinctive bonnets, were common across the Borders for more than a century.

Susan explained: "Bondagers were female farm workers in south east Scotland and Northumberland.  

"As part of their husband's contract - or bond - with the farmer, he would undertake to  provide another worker, usually his wife, to help as and when  required.

"The women wore a distinctive dress with bonnet, described as the 'last remaining peasant costume' in Britain. "

The photographs featured are from the archive collection of Auld Earlston.

For further details of Auld Earlston go to https:auldearlston.blogspot.co.uk or their Facebook page.