Flying Kites, 1885

Whitaker Children flying kites in the clover patch.

High Over Whitaker Farm: How to Make a Kite in 1885

Imagine living on a farm in Peckles-Wood Shire in the year 1885. There were no toy shops down the road, no brightly colored plastic kites, and certainly no video games.

When the Whitaker children finished their chores—feeding the chickens, hauling water from the well, and gathering eggs—they had to find their own ways to have fun. On windy afternoons, one of their favorite things to do was head out to the clover field and fly a kite they had made themselves.

You didn’t need much money to make a kite in 1885. Just a little know-how, a few things from around the farm, and a good breeze!

What They Found Around the Farm

To build a kite that could catch the Shire’s breeze, the children gathered a few simple things from around the farmyard:

The Frame (Hazel Sticks or Split Wood): They needed something light but strong enough to hold its shape. Thin, straight hazel branches from the hedgerow or slender strips of pine from the woodshed would do nicely.
The Sail (Old Newspapers or Brown Paper): There were no nylon kite sails in those days! Instead, the children could use old newspapers, perhaps even a copy of the Hexham Courant, or large sheets of brown paper used for wrapping parcels.
The Glue (Flour and Water): There were no glue sticks in the kitchen drawer. To fasten the paper to the frame, they mixed a spoonful of flour with a little water until it made a thick, sticky paste.
The Tail (Scrap Rags): A kite needs a tail to help it fly steadily. The children gathered worn-out scraps of cotton cloth from their mother’s sewing basket and tied them into little bows along a length of string.
The Flying Line (Light String): A length of string from the barn or kitchen would make a good flying line. They wound it around a small wooden stick or an empty thread spool to keep it from tangling.

How They Built It: 4 Simple Steps

1. Make the Cross

First, they laid two sticks across each other to form a cross. The longer stick ran from the top to the bottom of the kite, while the shorter stick crossed it near the top. They tied the two sticks firmly together with string.

2. String the Outline

Next, they cut tiny notches into the ends of the sticks and stretched a piece of string around them to form a diamond shape. This gave the kite its outer frame.

3. Paste on the Paper

They laid the wooden frame onto a sheet of newspaper and cut the paper slightly larger than the frame. Then they folded the edges over the string and fastened them with their homemade flour paste. Once the paste dried, the paper sail was ready.

4. Tie on the Tail and Flying Line

Finally, they tied their rag tail to the bottom point of the kite. A small bridle made from string, attached to the frame, gave them a place to fasten the flying line.

Launching into the Clover Field

Once the flour paste had dried in the sun, it was time to fly!

The clover field was the perfect place because it was wide and open, with few trees to catch the string. One child would hold the kite upright while another took the spool and walked or ran a little way into the breeze.

As the wind caught the newspaper sail, the kite would wobble, lift, and climb higher and higher. Soon it might be dancing above the stone walls and sheep pastures, with the children watching from below.

What a sight that must have been!

Try It Yourself!

You can make a kite of your own using paper, two light sticks, string, and a few scraps of cloth. Ask a grown-up to help with cutting and tying the frame.

Find an open field, away from roads, trees, and overhead power lines. Never fly a kite during a thunderstorm, and keep your flying line away from electrical wires.

Next time you see a kite dancing in the sky, remember the Whitaker children. They didn’t need a toy shop to have a wonderful afternoon. They just needed a little imagination and a good Northumberland breeze.

Perhaps they would have invited you to fly a kite with them, too!

Continue the adventure with Broken Sanctuary.

Own a Piece of 1885 → | Peckles-Wood Shire Map →

The Illustrator’s Vision—The maps and illustrations of Peckles-Wood Shire are inspired by the real landscapes, places, and traditions of Victorian Northumberland. Created for The Chronicles of Peckles-Wood Shire, they blend historical research with imagination to bring the world of Broken Sanctuary to life and invite young explorers to step into the Whitaker family’s adventure of 1885.

| Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Policy