60/76

This wooden club came from the workshop of Mr T. Harris at Witheridge Farm in Hailey, Oxfordshire, and was found on the hurdlemaking brake along with a fromard, with which the club was probably used. Fromards are used as a wedge in many woodworking trades for splitting timber lengthwise into boards, segments or billets. This club is made from a highly resinous piece of wood cut from natural growth with some cut facets. It is very worn, indicating heavy use.

1 club: wood (pitch pine, possibly thorn)

MERL miscellaneous note, Greta Bertram, 10 January 2013 – Mr T. Harris had a smithy at Witheridge Farm in Hailey, Oxfordshire. Upon his death in February 1960, his daughter, Mrs M. K. Fenn, donated a large number of his tools to the Museum. Mr Harris had previously donated a number of objects to the Museum in 1952 and 1956., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Standard museum name: … // Accession number: … // Classification: … // Negative number: … // Acquisition method: … // Acquired from: … // Date: … // Store: … // Condition: … // Recorder: … // Date: … // Description: Highly resinous wood, looks like pitch pine, but as cut from natural growth, might be thorn. Block of wood vaguely bottle shaped. Neck has some cut facets, and vertical splits. Around the middle of the body it is much frayed and abraded. // Dimensions: Height 34.9cm. Width at top 3.5cm. Width at bottom 9.3cm. // Associated information: Found on hurdlemaking brake with fromard (see 60/75) in Mr T. Harris’ workshop at Witheridge Farm, Hailey, Witney; donated by his daughter, Mrs. M.K. Fenn, on his death. // (1) For driving a froe (fromard) // References: (1) Dictionary of Tools used in the Woodworking and Allied Trades, c. 1700–1970: R.A. Salaman (George Allen & Unwin)'

Fenn, M. K. (Agent)