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This is a milk strainer. A cloth square was wetted and stuck to the outside, and it was placed over the churn or separator; the milk was poured through the cloth, leaving through the hole in the bottom of the bowl. It dates from the nineteenth century, and was used at Westgate in the Weardale area of County Durham until the 1930s. It has a string attached, enabling it to be hung up when not in use.

1 strainer: wood; good condition

MERL ‘History Artefacts’ card – 'Description: A bowl shaped wooden strainer of a type once in common use on dairy farms. It has a string on one side for hanging it up when not in use. // Use: For straining milk into a churn or separator, or other receptacle. A cloth square was wetted and stuck to the outside and the strainer placed on a wooden bridge over the receptacle that the milk was to be strained into. // Called SCYLING locally. // History: This strainer was handed down with the farm. // Conservation:', MERL ‘Associated information’ form – '"Used on a farm at Westgate in Weardale. According to original owner Mrs Carrrick of Sidehead, Westgate still in use about 25 years ago handed down with farm." // [pencil sketch] // String for hanging // Hole in bottom // "Cloth square was wetted and stuck to outside. Placed on wooden bridge in churn mouth or over separator and milk poured through to strain. Still called scyling locally."'

1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31

Nineteenth century