Numero oggetto
94/52
Descrizione
This is a side rake, a thatching tool used for dressing down long straw and raking out waste. It consists of a wooden handle and head, with twelve metal tines set into the side. It is part of a collection of thatching tools donated by Jeff King, a thatcher and former thatching advisor at CoSIRA.
Descrizione fisica
1 side rake: wood; metal; good condition
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>2. <B>Side rake</B><P>Side rakes are only used by thatchers who work with long straw. Once an area of thatch between the eaves and the ridge has been completed, the thatcher will use the rake to comb through the straw in order to remove any loose material and to also straighten the straws to give a neater finish to the completed thatch.<P>This side rake, together with a variety of other thatcher?s tools, were given to the Museum by Mr Geoff King, a thatcher who was taught the craft during the late 1950s. His years as a thatcher also included working in an advisory and teaching capacity for COSIRA/Rural Development Commission. He retired from work in the early 1990s.<P>94/52</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV><DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>3. <B>Side rake</B><P>Side rakes are only used by thatchers who work with long straw. Once an area of thatch between the eaves and the ridge has been completed, the thatcher will use the rake to comb through the straw in order to remove any loose material and to also straighten the straws to give a neater finish to the completed thatch.<P>This side rake, together with a variety of other thatcher?s tools, were given to the Museum by Mr Geoff King, a thatcher who was taught the craft during the late 1950s. His years as a thatcher also included working in an advisory and teaching capacity for COSIRA/Rural Development Commission. He retired from work in the early 1990s.<P>94/52</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Storico archivio
MERL miscellaneous note – ‘Collection of thatching tools given by Mr Geoff [Jeff] King, … , Evesham, Worcs, … , in February 1994. // Geoff King: // Took advantage of gov’t rehabilitation scheme on leaving the navy in 1957 to learn thatching. He was taught by George Wright, a thatcher of Nurseling, Southampton. After three years, he set up business on his own account on the outskirts of Southampton. // In 1970 he became Thatching Adviser for COSIRA [Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas]. This involved much travel, giving advice to other thatchers, house owners, public authorities etc. The job also involved being one of the tutors on the thatching course run at Knuston Hall adult education centre, near Wellingborough, Northants. These are two week courses for apprentice thatchers and they have to attend three a year. The courses are put on by the Rural Development Commission, successor body to COSIRA. // Geoff King retired in the summer of 1993, but reorganisation with the Rural Development Commission resulted in a delay in the appointment of his successor so he stayed on a little longer. // The tools that Mr King has given to the Museum have been collected in the course of his work around the country over the last twenty years and were accessories in his teaching. // See The Thatcher’s Craft, Rural Industries Bureau, 1960. Library ref. 5790. Chapter 7, Thatching Tools and Materials, P.205.’, MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Recorder: RB/JMB // Date: August 1994 // Description: Wooden rake with an iron bar bolted to the side of the head into which are set twelve metal teeth. // Dimensions: Total length: 106 cm // Length of teeth: 5.5 cm // Length of head: 61 cm // Associated information: This type of rake is only used with long straw for dressing down the work and raking out waste. // This is the actual tool that appears on p26 of ‘The Thatcher’s Craft’. // References: 5790 RIB The Thatcher’s Craft’, Typed/hand-written list in accession file: No. 5.
Nome oggetto
Materiale
Documento esterno
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_16277.tif - High resolution image