CHARLES WILKINS SCRAPBOOK

Anyone entering the building which housed the bulk of the Wilkins Brothers collection could be forgiven for thinking that tractors were the sole focus. This main building had been erected shortly after the purchase of Coalpit Farm in 1947.

Originally a hay barn with a cattle yard along the southern wall, it was extended to a bay later, which at one time was host by approximately 5000 laying hens. To one end of this was a breeze block low wall, which delineated the area where the eggs were washed and packed. Known as the pig pen this remained long after the hens left.

Space

Apart from one bay holding new spare parts, the rest of the building was filled with about 100 tractors. In the early Eighties, a separate workshop was built which gave space for