51/552

A housen, also known as 'hounsing' or 'hounce', is a piece of decoration or protective cape attached to the top of a horse's collar. This semi-circular housen is made of leather, stiffened in three parts with wood or metal, and has two brass studs. It came from East Hendred in Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire).

1 housen: leather

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Nineteenth century housens, hounsings or hounces were in general made of leather and this specimen came from East Hendred, Berkshire. It consists of a crescent shaped piece of leather 21 inches in maximum length, which was designed to fit over the top of the horse’s collar. At the highest parts of the semicircle are two oval brass studs, each measuring 2.3 inches by 1.8 inches in diameter. The housen has been stiffened in three parts by the inclusion of some tough material, such as wood or metal, enclosed within the leather and stitched up. This has the appearance of three pairs of parallels radiating outwards from the bottom of the housen. At the lower margin on the outer edge are two straps, each 5.4 inches long, while in the centre a strap is threaded through the main part of the leather.', No Lavinia Smith No. recorded., Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 353 // Housen or Housing // Lent by MERL Miss Smith c.' (This description could also be in reference to 51/551 and 51/550)

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)