Corn Dolly Crown

Introducing our corn dolly crown, a captivating piece of tradition taken to an artform! Ryedale Folk Museum is the proud preserver of a selection of corn dollies created by Mrs Beeforth, from the moorland village of Westerdale.

Traditionally, corn dollies were made in farming communities from the last sheaf cut during the harvest. Preserved until the following spring, the spirit of the corn was then transferred back to the field. It’s a moving reminder of the precariousness of the harvest and the investment of those who work the land. Sadly, this practice had almost died out by the Second World War, but was kept alive by a number of skilled exponents.

We’re very glad that Mrs Beeforth worked her magic to keep this tradition going – and now you can continue the process by adopting one today. The corn dollies in our collection take all manner of wonderful shapes, but this one really does ‘crown’ them all.