Object number
94/41
Collection
Creator
Description
This is a spud, also known as a 'stinger', a thatching tool used to repair holes in long straw thatch with a horizontal stubbing action. This spud was made in the 1970s by Jeff King, a thatcher and former thatching advisor at CoSIRA, and is of the type used in Northamptonshire. It consists of a flat piece of wood which tapers slightly at one end, and has a rectangular hole at the other which forms a handle.
Physical description
1 spud: wood; good condition
Archival history
MERL miscellaneous note – ‘Collection of thatching tools given by Mr Geoff [Jeff] King, … , Evesham, Worcs, … , in February 1994. // Geoff King: // Took advantage of gov’t rehabilitation scheme on leaving the navy in 1957 to learn thatching. He was taught by George Wright, a thatcher of Nurseling, Southampton. After three years, he set up business on his own account on the outskirts of Southampton. // In 1970 he became Thatching Adviser for COSIRA [Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas]. This involved much travel, giving advice to other thatchers, house owners, public authorities etc. The job also involved being one of the tutors on the thatching course run at Knuston Hall adult education centre, near Wellingborough, Northants. These are two week courses for apprentice thatchers and they have to attend three a year. The courses are put on by the Rural Development Commission, successor body to COSIRA. // Geoff King retired in the summer of 1993, but reorganisation with the Rural Development Commission resulted in a delay in the appointment of his successor so he stayed on a little longer. // The tools that Mr King has given to the Museum have been collected in the course of his work around the country over the last twenty years and were accessories in his teaching. // See The Thatcher’s Craft, Rural Industries Bureau, 1960. Library ref. 5790. Chapter 7, Thatching Tools and Materials, P.205.’, MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Recorder: RB/JMB // Date: August 1994 // Description: This object has the name ‘STINGER’. In the vernacular dictionary a ‘stinger’ is a mender of thatched roofs. // A flat piece of wood tapering to one end and a rectangular hole at the opposite end to form a handle. // Dimensions: Max. length 27.5 cm // 2.4 cm thick // Max. width 17.3 cm // Associated information: Made by Geoff King, 1970’s. It is of a type used in Northamptonshire. // It is used for repairing holes in long straw thatch with a horizontal stubbing action. // References: …’, Typed/hand-written list in accession file: No. 37.
Production date
1970-01-01 - 1979-12-31
Production period
1970s
Object name
Material
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_16302.tif - High resolution image