mary teagle

Farming, Agriculture

1914 - 2008

Suggested by Manice Stabbins

Manice writes,
“Tom and Mary Teagle founded Teagle Farm Machinery Ltd in 1937 and developed it into the world class Cornish manufacturing business which it continues to be today. They designed, built and sold no-nonsense farming machinery which was robust, reliable and performance focused, enabling farming to be as efficient as possible.
The iconic red and yellow machines have been integral not only to Cornish farming but to the worldwide farming community. Mary’s hands-on involvement and influence, her energy and tenacity were integral to the company’s success. Her organising, computer-like brain complimented Tom’s designer/engineering brain to great effect.

As a retired vet I am still excited by farming and have been researching women of Cornwall who epitomise roles women have played and are still fulfilling in agriculture, food and farming. Women have always supported farming as partners, wives and mothers, relied on and appreciated by the farming community but often overlooked outside of it.
Mary Teagle is an example of a woman who was integral to the world of farm machinery, an essential aspect of farm efficiency, function and hence success and profitability. She represents the role of so many women in farming history and today.

Mary Teagle, nee Hawke, was raised on a farm near Newquay, one of 5 daughters and a son. All the girls married farmers’ sons.”