51/166

An oven scraper was used for scraping the ashes out of an oven before dough was put in to bake. The ovens were very hot and very deep so very long handled implements were needed.

1 oven scraper: wood [ash] and metal [iron]; good condition

Citation in publication [H. J. Massingham, 'Country Relics' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1939)] –'The heat of it explains both the length of the bread-peel and the meaning of my long, hoe-like scraper from Wessex with its broad, half-moon blade. It was for scraping out the ashes before the dough was put into the heated oven.' (pp.204-205) [see also 51/167], MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Nothing is known about the origin of this scraper. It was used for scraping the ashes out of the oven before the dough was put in to bake. The brick oven lay alongside the fireplace and was first heated with woodfuel, mixed with furze or dry bracken, which gave off a strong heat. Both because of the heat, and because of the depth of the oven, very long handled implements were needed, such as the oven scraper and oven peel. // This scraper has a hoe-like blade, made of iron, which measures 10.5 inches by 4 inches, set a right angles to the handle. The handle measures 7 feet in total length. The top is made of ash wood and measures 5 feet 3 inches. It fits into the metal socket of the iron handle and this in its turn is rivetted to the blade.', MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/166 // NAME: OVEN SCRAPER // NEG NO.: 35/199 // STORAGE: P.Ex. (Permanent Exhibition) Gallery.'

Wood, ash, Metal, iron