88/30

This is a net made of rope. It was used to cover over a trap or trailer when transporting a pig. It is part of the Lucas Collection of objects and documents donated to the Museum by Mr Lucas, a farmer and dairyman from Reading, Berkshire.

1 net: rope; good condition

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: NET // Accession number: 88/30 // Classification: LIVESTOCK Pigs // Negative number: 60/15632 // Acquisition method: GIFT // Acquired from, date: H. B. LUCAS, [...], 10 June 1988 // Store: small object // Condition: good // Recorder, date: JMB 2.3.89 // Description: A net made of rope. It is made up of 8 x 8cm squares knotted in position. There are ties at the corners and mid way along the sides. // Dimensions: Length: 170.0cm. Width: approx 160.0cm // Associated information: Use to cover over a trap or trailer when transporting a pig. // References:', MERL Miscellaneous note, Greta Bertram, 19 February 2014 – The Lucas Collection contains objects (88/23–88/43) and documents (D90/8/1–21) donated by Mr H. B. Lucas, a farmer and dairyman. Mr Lucas kept chickens, cows and pigs on his smallholding in Whitley Wood Road, Reading, and retired in 1971. The Lucas family farmed in a small way at Lane End Farm in Shinfield, Reading, from the end of the nineteenth century. Mr Lucas’ grandfather built Lane End House, and brought threshing machines to Berkshire, and his uncle was a threshing tackle contractor with premises opposite the farm. The objects in the Collection were used by Mr Lucas on his smallholding and in conjunction with his dairy business. The documents (now in the MERL Archives) consist of show catalogues for poultry and fancier's associations, prize certificates for eggs and poultry, record cards for egg production and newspaper cuttings about shows.