51/214

Scoops were used for digging land drains. The ditch would first be dug with a spade and then the bottom cleaned and smoothed with the scoop. This scoop, called a ‘crummer’ by the donor, is made of iron and would have had a wooden handle. It comes from Haddenham in Buckinghamshire.

1 drainage scoop: metal [iron]

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This scoop came from Haddenham, (Bucks), and was given to Mr. Massingham by Mr. Walter Rose. It was used for digging land drains, both the old wedge-shaped trenches, and tile or pipe drains. The ditch would be dug with a special spade, and the scoop employed afterwards to make the bottom clean and smooth. Pipes and tiles were often placed in the ditch by slipping them on top of the scoop, which slopes upwards at an angle, and slipping them off into the bottom. Scoops of this general construction have been in use for a very long time. It is made of iron, and consists of a half cylinder set at right angles to a shaft 25 inches in length. At one time there has been a wooden handle but only a stump is left now. The handle was riveted to the iron socket. The half cylinder or scoop measures 14.5 inches in length and 3 inches in width. // Mr. Massingham refers to the implement as a CRUMMER.', MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/214 // NAME: SCOOP // NEG NO.: 35/224 // STORAGE: '