51/1195

This is a wrought iron branding iron which brands the letter 'N' surrounded by a circle of points and a fleur-de-lys. The N stands for Nixon of Worth Hall, Sussex, where it would have been used to mark ownership of sheep. The handle is stamped with the maker's name, 'Walter'. It dates from the nineteenth century.

1 branding iron: metal (wrought iron); good condition

MERL Object Handling Research, Rachael Rogers, December 2019 - 'This is a wrought iron branding iron which brands the letter 'N' surrounded by a circle of points and a fleur-de-lys. The N stands for Nixon of Worth Hall, Sussex, where it would have been used to mark ownership of sheep. // Livestock are branded as a means of identifying the owner. This is useful for animals sent to market, agricultural shows, or when animals are stolen. These markings allow police and the authorities to identify and track the owner. Historically, hot branding was undertaken with implements such as this, however alternative techniques now exist. // Traditional hot branding would involve securing the animal, either by binding its legs and placing it on its side, or within a gated and secured chute. Following this, the brand is heated in a fire before being applied to the desired area of the animal. Animals are most commonly branded on the rump, however branding can also be applied to the animals’ horns. This is especially common in Merino rams and bulls, allowing for permanent individual identification. // The handle of this brander is stamped with the maker’s name ‘Walter’. Whilst it is not known where it was made, its having been used during farming in Worth Hall Sussex, suggests that it may have been made by a forger local to the area. // Whilst branding is still used on some farms today, especially on ranches within the United States, concerns regarding animal welfare in the UK have seen this method of livestock monitoring lose popularity. Instead, animals are chipped or tagged with yellow tags on their ears. These tags are marked with an individual Animal Identification Number (AIN) and a barcode.', MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This branding iron is made of wrought iron. It makes the mark N for Nixon of Worth Hall, Sussex. The maker’s maker, Walter, is stamped on the iron. It is more ornamental than the usual branding iron, the letter being surrounded by a circle of points with a fleur-de-lis [sic] at one side. The handle is short and consists of three bars which meet in a point. // See also 51/477L.', Victoria & Albert Museum No. M299, 1917.

1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31

Nineteenth century

Nixon (Agent)