What is it - rescuingthepast.co.uk. Collecting old farm tools & rural history.

From West wales. We have been told this may have been used in the wheelwright trade, as one simialar is in the wheelwright's shop at the Gloucester folk museum.

We have been told by a gentleman of Sussex, this is a builders hand tool, for raking out and smoothing lime mortar, brickwork joints.

auger ?

hanging cradle

From west wales.

Dug up from the ground, 24" depth. Mid to late 1800s. About 24 inches long & 3 inches dia. We think it is a sort of anchor, for holding down a strained wire fence? the victorian type fence, the remnants of which can often be seen along the old steam engine train lines.

flat pin

From the New Forest area.

six holed stone

This interesting stone was dug up 36 inches beneath ground in a bank by the river Windrush in the Cotswolds. Small Roman finds were in the same bank. Approx 15 inches square. One side is very weathered. This item has caused huge interest, with a number of emails, stating it has pagan origins, relating to sightseeing?

six holed stone 2

tapered wedge

What is it

From the Banbury area. Head is approx 6 inches long.
Rehandled with ash by ourselves.

Various emails stating this tool is a stone wedge for riving quarry stone down the grain. A plough type staff. For riving timber etc

This piece of apparatus was used on the farm. It stands approx four & a half feet tall. The cross arm is adjustable, up & down. The two grab apparatus on the arm opens up. Various peaple have said this is for holding hessian sacks open, whilst filling them with chaff at the thresher. One gentleman from Gloucestershire describes it as apparatus for holding open large woolsacks whilst wool may be forcibly pressed into the sack. (more likely)

These rings were found in a field using a metal detecter in mid Hertfordshire. These are links that were used by the shepherd to hold in place his hazel hurdles when placed side by side. Rings were put over the top of the stiles, holding them together.

This tool has caused much discussion. There is a point at the rounded end of the handle. The links are forge made, with two links to every elongated link. The whole chain swivels around the handle and the last link, rather worn, appears to be an anchor link. Brick is nine inches long, so will give an idea of size.

What is it