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This is a spring jawed rat trap made of iron. When the rat pressed down on the spring plate, the serrated jaws would open and then close with force on the rat’s leg when the plate was released. The trap was held in the ground by the chain.

1 rat trap: metal (iron); good condtion

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This rat trap is similar in shape to the common spring jawed rabbit trap, although it is much smaller in size. It consists of a bottom piece of iron 8.5 inches long. The front end of this is upturned and two holes accommodate the front end of the pair of spring jaws. The back of the jaws are fitted into a two holed projection which is at an angle of 90 degrees from the bottom, and 2.5 inches from the front. The serrated edged jaws themselves are 2.4 inches long at the top and are 1.5 inches above the level of the bottom plate. A piece of iron, 6 inches in length, which has been curved and sprung, is rivetted to the bottom plate near its back at one end, wile the other end which is ringed is fixed over the jaws. When this spring plate is pressed down it causes the jaws to open and when it is released the jaws close with some force on the animal’s leg. The square platform pierced by two holes is 1.5 inches square and this is held in place by a small clip which is fixed over the jaws when the trap is set. On stepping on this, the clip is released and the sprung piece of iron draws the jaw upwards to close over the animal’s leg. // At the very end of the trap is an eight link chain, 11 inches in length, by which the trap was held in the ground.', Lavinia Smith No. 387., Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) - 'A list of the contents of the East Hendred museum. July 5 1940 // 386-391. Six old traps (rat and rabbit)', Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 344 // Rat Trap // Lent by MERL Miss Smith c.' (This description could also be in reference to 51/825)

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)