51/582

Flails were commonly used to thresh corn and other crops to separate the grain from the husks. They were used before the development of threshing machines. Threshing by flail provided winter work for labourers and was done on a threshing floor in a barn. A flail usually consists of a handle, a 'swingel' (the swinging part of the flail which hits the grain) and a 'swivel' joint to join the two together. This flail, with an ash handle and birch swingel, was found in an empty barn at Culham Manor in Culham, Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire).

1 flail: wood (ash and birch); leatherHaving leather strips connected to a ring as the 'hinge' means there is a free swivel action movement when the flail is in use. This provides a more effective swinging action.

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This flail was found in an empty barn at Culham Manor (Berkshire) and was bought by Miss Smith. // The hand-staff, made of ash, measures 38.5 inches in length and is thicker than is usual. A wooden loop is fastened to a very large nail, and the nail is hammered into the end of the staff, which is itself bound with an iron ring to prevent the wood from splitting. This device forms a swivel on which the swingel can swing freely. The swingel which measures 31 inches, is made of birch. A leather loop is bound by thongs over the end and through this is threaded the leather flail-hinging. // See also 51/46M.', Lavinia Smith No. 225., Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) - 'A list of the contents of the East Hendred museum. July 5 1940 // Heating and Cooking // 223-225. Three flails. The pair were used by Levi Smith. His daughter remembers seeing him threshing corn in Harris's barn the day her youngest brother was born (about 1889). These are beautifully made. The large one I bought from an empty barn at Culham Manor when it was dismantelled [sic]' (See also 51/587 and 51/586/1-2), Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) [page 26] - 'No.225 // [pencil sketch] // Flail Joint - Culham Manor - Berks // Wrapped with cane // tightened by the insertion of bones // [Annotation] The hole cut from solid box' (See also 51/587 and 51/586/1-2), Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 341 // Flail // Lent by MERL Miss Smith c.' (This description could also be in reference to 51/587 and 51/586/1-2), MERL ‘Conservation Record’ form – ‘Class: Threshing hand // Name: Flail // Acc. No.: 51/582 // Conservator: D E // Date: Autumn 1994 // part/whole: treatment: method: // part/whole: repair: Head of the flail repaired and glued. method: // part/whole: finish: method: // [tick box, unticked] tick when noted on catalogue sheet’

Wood, ash, Wood, birch, Leather