Inventarnummer
51/25
Beschreibung
This is a thatching bat, for use on a roof thatched with Norfolk reed, where cutting the eaves would spoil the reeds. A thatcher uses a bat to drive the spars (also known as 'spicks') into the thatch in order to secure it, and to dress the reed/straw into place and ensure an even finish. According to the donor, this achieves the same results as with a paring knife but without spoiling the reeds (however, he was unable to obtain confirmation of this). This bat is made of wood, with a square head with circular holes drilled into it. Thatching bats are also known as 'biddles', 'liggetts', 'leggatts' and 'leggetts'.
Physische Beschaffenheit
1 leggett; wood; fair condition: worn
Bestandsgeschichte
Citation in publication [H. J. Massingham, 'Country Relics' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1939)] - 'I have two more thatching tools in the row of them collected into the Hermitage. One is a broad bat of oak with a short handle attached to it in the middle of the reverse side and inclined out of the level by a wooden wedge. The face of the [page break] bat is chiselled into a number of shallow circular holes. I have never met a thatcher who could tell me the function of this tool, and I have come to the conclusion that it is a freak.' (pp. 13-14), MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘BAT [‘(Thatcher's)’ Scored through]// DATE ACQUIRED: January, 1951 // GROUP: CRAFTS- STRAW- THATCH // NEGATIVE: 35/122 35/123// PERIOD: Unknown // PLACE OF ORIGIN: The H. J. Massingham Collection // NUMBER: 51/25M // DESCRIPTION: Mr. Massingham obtained this in Wessex and considers it to be a thatcher's bat of the same type as 51/24 used for 'reed' thatching. He was unable, however, to obtain any confirmation of this. // It is considerably heavier that 51/24 and is made of 1.7"wood 6" x 8.4". The handle is set at an angle to the back and is 14.5" long. The face of the bat has 13 holes drilled in it each 1" diameter.', MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/25 // NAME: THATCHER'S BAT // NEG NO.: 35/22, 35/123 // STORAGE: P. Ex. [Permanent Exhibition] Thatching.'
Objektbezeichnung
Material
Digitales Dokument
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\35 series negatives\Scans\35_122.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\35 series negatives\Scans\35_123.tif - High resolution image