51/786/1-2

This pair of overshoes is very similar to pattens, wooden shoes with an iron hoop beneath that were used by most countrywomen to keep their feet out of the mud in the farmyard and around the dairy. However, this pair shows no signs of ever having had irons, and judging from the size were probably for a man. They have leather toe caps and side pieces and would have been fastened with laces. Lavinia Smith acquired them from Henry Tyrrell of Harwell, Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire).

1 pair of pattens: wooden soles; leather straps and toe capsThese are unusual in not having any iron hoops attached to the soles to raise them from the ground. Nor is there any evidence that there ever were any irons attached. The strip of leather attached to the sole may have some bearing on the absence of irons.

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'These overshoes are very similar to pattens, but lack the oval shaped irons on the soles of the shoes. There is no evidence that this pair ever had irons. They are clogs with wooden soles measuring 11 inches in length and leather toe caps and side pieces. The leathers are nailed to the sides through reinforcements of thin strips of metal. The side pieces have laces which would fasten over the foot. One shoe has a strip of leather nailed to the sole just in front of the instep. This may have some bearing on the absence of irons. // Miss Smith obtained them from Mr. Henry Tyrrell of Harwell (Berks). Judging from the size they were probably for a man. See also 51/700/1–2L', Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) - 'A list of the contents of the East Hendred museum. July 5 1940. // 450. A pair of wooden shoes, Henry Tyrrell of Harwell.', Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) [page 23] - 'No.450 // [pencil sketch] // Wooden Shoe', Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition Catalogue 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 33 // Pattens // Lent by The Museum of English Rural Life' (The description in the catalogue could also be in reference to 51/702/1-2, 51/701/1-2 and 51/700/1-2)

Patten, Overshoe

Wood, Metal

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)