60/75

This froe, also known as a fromard, came from the workshop of Mr T. Harris at Witheridge Farm in Hailey, Oxfordshire, and was found on the hurdlemaking brake along with a wooden club, with which the fromard was probably used. Fromards are used as a wedge in many woodworking trades for splitting timber lengthwise into boards, segments or billets. This fromard has an oval oak handle with an iron blade.

1 fromard: wood [oak] and metal; fair condition

MERL miscellaneous note, Greta Bertram, 10 January 2013 – Mr T. Harris had a smithy at Witheridge Farm in Hailey, Oxfordshire. Upon his death in February 1960, his daughter, Mrs M. K. Fenn, donated a large number of his tools to the Museum. Mr Harris had previously donated a number of objects to the Museum in 1952 and 1956., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Standard museum name: … // Accession number: … // Classification: … // Negative number: … // Acquisition method: … // Acquired from: … // Date: … // Store: … // Condition: … // Recorder: … // Date: … // Description: Oval oak handle, tapering towards one end. Blade of metal, with ring attached to handle by splitting the wood, slipping the ring over, and then driving a dark wedge of wood into the split. The cutting edge of the blade is the top one, i.e. at the opposite side from the person holding it. The blade is of metal. // Dimensions: Length of handle 34.7cm. Length of blade excluding ring 19cm. Width of blade 4.3cm. // Associated information: Donated by Mrs Fenn after the death of her father, Mr T. Harris; from his workshop at Witheridge Farm, Hailey, Witney, found on the hurdle making brake with club (see 60/76). // (1) A blade about 6–12 in. long, wedge shaped in section provided with a round socket for the handle, which is set at right angles to the cutting edge. It is used in many different trades for splitting timber lengthways into boards, segments or billets. This operation is also called cleaving, rending, or riving. // References: (1) Dictionary of Tools used in the Woodworking and Allied Trades, c. 1700–1970: R.A. Salaman (George Allen & Unwin)'

Wood, oak, Metal

Fenn, M. K. (Agent)