From the Darlington & Stockton Times of December 2, 1871

“A WHITE globe turnip, weighing 14lbs and measuring 2ft 8ins in circumference, has been grown by Mr George Shipley, of Thornton-le-Moor, farmer, from a seed of 1870 sold by Mr Warrior of Northallerton,” said the D&S Times 150 years ago.

The white globe variety is still popular today and we believe it is the one with the purply top.

In 1871, the big brassica was displayed in Mr Warrior’s shop window in Northallerton where it caused quite a stir and was hailed as a turn up for the books.

IN other news 150 years ago, there had been a “deplorable row” at a public house in Osmotherley on Saturday night. As a result, a young soldier, George Rhymer, a native of Osmotherley who was on furlough from the army in Ireland, “is lying in a precarious condition, from blows to the head and elsewhere, received from the policeman’s baton”.

The D&S doesn’t say what caused the policeman to lash out so wildly, but it hints that this would not be the end of the story.