Killing and stubbing

A raw glimpse into traditional rural industry at the turn of the century

This rare and unfiltered image from around 1900 captures a team of rural workers in Heathfield, East Sussex, engaged in the labour-intensive process of killing and stubbing—the preparation of rabbits or poultry for the meat trade. With rows of carcasses hanging in the background and piles of feathers on the floor, it offers a powerful reminder of the manual, often communal work behind Britain’s countryside economy.

Men and women work side by side, hands busy with knives and plucking, in a scene that would have been familiar across rural England at the time. These small-scale operations were vital for feeding growing towns and cities before the era of industrialised agriculture.

🗓️ Did you know? By 1900, rabbit meat was a staple in working-class households across Britain, especially in the South East, where small game was plentiful and affordable.

📍 Heathfield, Wealden District, East Sussex, England
📷 Photograph circa 1900 – Thorpe & Jenning series

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