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This is a long handled curd breaker, used for processing milk cheese. It has an ash handle, joined to a central steel shaft by brass mountings. It was used to cut the curd horizontally and vertically into even-sized pieces to hasten the escape of the whey. It is stamped 'R. Allen, maker S Mallet' on the base of the handle, referring to the manufacturer in Shepton Mallet. It was used at Maryland Dairy farm, in Ditcheat, Somerset.

1 curd breaker: wood (ash); steel; brass; fair condition

Shepton Mallet