Object number
83/36/1-2
Creator
Description
This is an ashwood, 17-tine rake for gathering harvested hay. It is new but made to a traditional 'split-handled' design. Stamped on the head and handle is the following: 'AJAX // Made by Suffolk Craftsmen'. It was made by Whelnetham Woodwork Ltd., Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, who also made scythe handles, forks, mauls, beetles, mallets and handles by traditional methods, in addition to rakes. Whelnetham Woodwork Ltd.'s original woodworking factory was founded in 1725 but the earliest records are contained in a ledger of 1809. The raw materials for woodworking were always available from local woodlands. The later factory was established in 1912 by John George & Sons Ltd, hardware manufacturers, then of Lackington St., London EC2. They originally leased coppice woods around Felsham Hall, Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, then subsequently purchased 300 acres of these in 1934. The factory was burnt down and rebuilt in 1939. Some years later the business was purchased by Ron Hack, a freelance journalist. By the early 1980s Whelnetham Woodwork Ltd. was run by one full-time worker, Noel Cullum. The wood was still obtained from the same source, which had become Bradfield Hall Nature Reserve, owned by the Society for Promoting Nature Reserves.
Physical description
1 rake: wood [ash]; condition- new
Label Text
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>5. <B>Hay rakes in the collection</B><P>Hay rake made in 1983 by Whelnetham Woodwork Ltd of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. A small rake-making factory was established there in 1912, although wood-working on the site can be dated back to 1725. The business closed in 1984 and the Rural History Centre has an extensive collection of its records. They show, for example, that rake output, which stood at 818 dozen (ie 9,816) in 1927, had dropped back to 463 dozen (5,556) in the years of agricultural depression in the early 1930s. Thereafter, production picked up again, especially with the coming of the Second World War, and peaked at 991 dozen (11,892) in 1950 before falling sharply again in succeeding years as the effects of wider use of hay-making machinery were felt.<P>83/36<P>Archives: TR JGS 96-106</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV><DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>5. <B>Hay rakes in the collection</B><P>Hay rake made in 1983 by Whelnetham Woodwork Ltd of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. A small rake-making factory was established there in 1912, although wood-working on the site can be dated back to 1725. The business closed in 1984 and the Rural History Centre has an extensive collection of its records.<P>83/36<P>Archives: TR JGS 96-106</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Archival history
According to the accession form, two rakes were originally acquired by the Museum (one with 17 tines, the other with 15 tines). However, one (with 15 tines) now appears to be missing. The description above refers to the rake with 17 tines., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: RAKE // Accession number: 83/36/1-2 // Classification: HARVESTING Hay // Negative number: // Acquisition method: Purchase £12 // Acquired from, date: John Creasey, MERL. May 1983 // Store: small object // Condition: new // Recorder, date: J. M. Betts 13.5.83 // Description: [‘Where is the 15 tine rake?’ pencil] // Two traditional craftsman made wooden hay rakes. They are made of ash. One has 17 teeth and the other 15 teeth. // Inscription: stamped on head and handle // AJAX // Made by Suffolk Craftsmen. // Dimensions: 1) Length: 182.0cm Width of head: 72.0cm // 2) // Associated information: These rakes were made by Whelnetham Woodwork Ltd., Station Yard, Whelnetham, Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk IP30 0DT Tel. Sicklesmere 300. // This company still makes rakes, scythe handles, forks, mauls, beetles, mallets and handles by traditional methods. // Associated information (continued): Whelnetham Woodwork Ltd. // The original woodworking factory was founded in 1725 but the earliest records are contained in a ledger of 1809. // The raw materials for woodworking were always available from local woodlands. // The present factory was established in 1912 by John George & Sons Ltd, hardware factors, then of Lackington St., London EC2. Originally leasing coppice woods in the Felsham Hall woods, 300 acres of these were purchased in 1934. The factory was burnt down and rebuilt in 1939 and the Lister Diesel engine still in use dates from that time. // Some years ago the business was purchased by Ron Hack, a freelance journalist and now exists somewhat precariously with one full-time worker, Noel Cullum. The wood is still being obtained from the same source, now Bradfield Hall Nature Reserve, owned by the Society for Promoting Nature Reserves. // References: See file with MERL librarian containing information and correspondence about Whelnetham Woodwork Ltd. at Sicklesmere, Suffolk'
Production place
Bury Saint Edmunds
Production date
1983-01-01
Object name
Material
Associated subject