64/211

This basketwork fire hose strainer, also known as a 'balloon', comes from Saint Ives, Cambridgeshire. It is a tall, narrow, round basket which widens sharply at the top and is made of buff willow. Fire strainers were placed on the end of the hose of a fire engine to strain the water, which was often taken from a nearby pond and therefore contained debris.

1 basket: buff willow

MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: STRAINER (Fire hose, basketwork) J. Harrison // Acc. No.: 64/211 // Group: SOCIETY – Protection – fire // Neg. no.: 60/5935 // Place of origin: Huntingdonshire. // Period in use: Present // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Buff willow // Shape and construction: A tall narrow round basket, widened sharply at 11” with a band of 5 wales on the inside & then 6 on the outside, finished with a 3-behind-1 border. Side ? randed. Very strongly made. BS. [number of bottom sticks] 5. St. [number of stakes] 20. 5 rounds upsett. // Dimensions: Height 15” Diam. top: 10” Diam. bottom 7” // Use: On the hose of a fire engine for straining water. // Dialect names: Balloon // Distribution: General // Additional notes: see 64/215', MERL miscellaneous note – A member of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers visiting in May 2019 noted that such strainers are also called 'stroms'.

Strainer, fire hose, Basketwork

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)
Lambeth, R. C. (Agent)
Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Isle of Ely Community Council (Agent)