81/150

This rake is made of ash and was used for gathering harvested hay into piles ready for collection. It belonged to Charles Kettle, who used to live on the Earl of Derby's estate, Coworth Park, in Sunningdale, near Windsor. It has seventeen tines; one of the original tines was broken off when the rake was donated to MERL, but it was replaced by MERL in 1989.

1 rake: wood [ash, dark in colour]; split-handle type

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: Rake // Accession number: 81/150 // Classification: Harvesting: hay // Negative number: 60/14719 // Acquisition method: Gift // Acquired from, date: Mrs Godden [...] // Store: // Condition: Fair, one tine missing // Recorder, date: DJE, 28.9.1981 // Description: Rake of ash: the handle is split to join the head. There were originally seventeen tines but one has broken off. The handle is quite long. // [pencil] Now 17 tines (missing one replaced) // Dimensions: 196 x 72.5cm (length of handle x width of head) // Associated information: Belonged to Charles Kettle, who used to live on the Earl of Derby's estate, Coworth Park Sunningdale, Berks. // References:', Letter, MERL to Mrs Godden, 29 September 1981 – 'Dear Mrs. Godden, // This is just to thank you for the gift of the objects from your garden shed and for being so kind as to supply us with the additional information about the Kettle family; this greatly adds to the value of our records for these objects. // It was certainly worth us making the visit. The firedogs and wooden rake especially, are fine and rare examples and found less frequently these days. // Yours sincerely, // David J. Eveleigh // Assistant Keeper'