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This carcass hanger, or 'carcass tree', came from Messrs Cook & Sons Ltd., a slaughtering business in Wedmore, Somerset, which closed down circa 1939. It consists of a wooden shaft with groups of fixed and movable iron pegs. The carcass of the slaughtered animal would be secured to the tree, which was then hoisted aloft so that the carcass be eviscerated and quartered.

carcass hanger: wood, metal

‘Notes Concerning a Visit to Wedmore on 9th October, 1963, and on the Material Collected’ by J. W. Anstee – ‘Messrs. Cook (of Wedmore) were one of two local businesses devoted to the slaughtering of all types of livestock and supplying the butchers of the district. The firm seems to have been going strong for at least 150 years (probably) in the same premises and appears to have been combined with various family smallholdings concerned with dairy and beef cattle, both on the higher ground and on the marsh pasture. In fact, like most other rural ‘yeoman’ families they seem to have had their fingers in many local pies. The family are well represented in the local churchyard for a long way back. // … // The business officially closed down at the beginning of the last war [World War II, i.e. 1939] when certain legislation took effect, but judging by the laughter involved when discussing the subject some illegal killing was done afterwards. // … // N.B. Cooks were proud of the fact that they had dealt in “English meat only”.’, ‘Notes Concerning a Visit to Wedmore on 9th October, 1963, and on the Material Collected’ by J. W. Anstee – ‘Each end of the latter [carcase tree] has a group of fixed and movable iron pins through the wood. Exactly how a pair of legs on the carcase was secured to the tree by these pins caused arguments between the Cooks [Albert Cook and Charles Cook]. There are probably two or three methods depending on circumstances. C. Cook said that cuts were made behind the knees for the tapered iron pegs to be pushed through and jammed into the tree. After hoisting the carcase aloft, it was eviscerated and quartered. The central iron eye on the tree is a later addition, put on after the brothers thought the hoisting gear was becoming a little shaky. As soon as the tree reached the right height, the eye was secured to a chain which dangled from somewhere near the ridge.’

Wood, Metal