51/807

Isaac Fussell (Manufacturer)

Hedging hooks are used in the preliminary clearance work of laying a hedge for cutting away rough overgrowth, shrubs and trees not to be used in the hedge, and also in general hedge cutting and tidying. Upward strokes of the hook are used to cut the stems cleanly without splitting. This hook is a long handled slasher, used for work on high hedges. It has an iron blade, stamped with the maker’s name, ‘Isaach Fussell, Nunney’, and an ash handle.

1 hedging hook: wood (ash); metal (iron)

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Hedging hooks are used in the preliminary work of laying a hedge, and also in general hedge cutting and tidying. The first step in hedge laying is to cut away the rough overgrowth and the shrubs and trees which are not to be used as the groundwork of the hedge. Upward strokes of the hook are used so that the stems are cut cleanly without splitting. Hedge laying is usually done in January, February or March, and at other times of the year the work of trimming up goes on. // This hook is a long handled slasher, used for work on high hedges. It measures 56 inches in length, with a wooden handle of ash, and an iron blade. The blade is 17 inches long, and has a gentle curve, sharpened on the inside, terminating in a flat, blunt end. It has the maker’s name Isaac Fussell, Nunney (?) stamped on it. The handle tapers to fit into the socket of the blade, and is held in place by a rivet. // See also 51/183M.', MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 51/183 – In laying a hedge, the first task is clearance, and the saplings which have grown too big have their side twigs and branches sliced off. Then they are chopped down until they are only attached by a tongue of wood to their bases. The hedger then pulls them down and weaves the tops in between stakes which are placed a foot or so apart. This process is called PLEACHING or PLASHING and the layers of saplings are PLEACHES, PLUSHES, or PLASHES. The work is done in sections, two at a time. Then the hedge is EDDERED or HEATHERED. This means that the hedger treads down the pleaches and binds them in and out of the tops of the stakes which are cut to about 6 inches above them, or driven in to that height. A third rod is pushed behind each stake and between the ends of the two already woven. These rods are called EDDERS. The binding gives support to the new vegetation and also holds it in check. Lastly, the ditch below the hedge is cleared. Variations in methods of hedging are found in different parts of the country, and also occur according to the purpose of the hedge., No Lavinia Smith No. recorded.

Nunney

Wood, ash, Metal, iron

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)