2018/56

This horseshoe shaped, clayware drainage tile was found in a brook running through the middle of Home Farm, Chastleton. This tile was excavated by the donor in the early 21st century. It is thought to date from the late eighteenth or nineteenth century [1750-1826, or 1850-1899] [see notes].

1 clayware drainage tile; good condition.

Museum Object Entry Form – ‘MUSEUM NAME: The MERL // […] // DESCRIPTION OF OBJECT/COLLECTION: Found in Bara-Ground (field) in brook running alongside. Through middle of Home Farm Ground. // - Big Flat on other side of Brook // Tributary to River Evenlode, Heathrop Country // REASON FOR ENTRY: Gift // […] // Date 23.11.18’, Email, Ollie Douglas to Rebecca Townsend, 21 November 2018 – ‘Dear Rebecca, // Apologies for our getting back to you at such short notice before your visit. // Ollie passed your tile-related enquiry on to me, and I have been looking at our existing collections to see whether we have anything similar and whether we could accommodate that found by your father. // I am pleased to say that we don’t currently have any drainage tiles from the Chastleton area in our collection, although we do have many in this style and a couple from the Gloucestershire area. // We would be interested to see the tile if you and your father are happy to bring it with you on Friday? It would be interesting to know why he believed it to be rare, and would help us to make a decision on whether we can acquire it. // If we decide that we could not acquire the tile to be held in the Museum for visitors and researchers, and if your father is happy to do so, we could consider the tile for our object handling collection – This would also be dependent on the tile’s stability and condition, but it’s one further option we can assess on Friday. // The objects in this collection are all ‘accessioned’ so they are officially part of the museum’s collections, but rather than being stored in our stores, the tile would be used in sessions with museum visitors, schools, and wider groups to provide a more hands-on experience of the museum – If we could also obtain some context, such as history of the local area where the tile was found and the farm’s history, this could be used in the tile’s record to pass on to these groups engaging with it. // Would yourself and your father be happy to bring it with you on Friday? We can take a look at it, assess its condition, and make a decision from there. // Thank you very much, and all the best, // Rachael’, Email, Rebecca Townsend to Ollie Douglas, 21 November 2018 – ‘Thank you so much for your response, and sorry I am late in getting back to you. // The drain was found on my Farther farm which is in Gloucestershire. Its a small farm (which was dairy until about 3 years ago) called Home Farm in the village of Chastleton. It also boasts the National Trust property "Chastleton house" in which my farther used to work as a child. // The nearest two towns either side are Chipping Norton and Moreton in Marsh. // I completely understand you have a busy schedule this week so please don't feel you have to spend hours talking about some pipe that may well be of no interest but if it is let me know and we will pop it in to you on Friday. // Thanks ever so much for your time so far and we look forward to visiting the museum later this week. // kind regards, // Rebecca’, Email, Ollie Douglas to Rebecca Townsend, 20 November 2018 – Hi Rebecca, // Just left you a rambling phone message. // Thank you kindly for contacting us about the drainage tile. We do have a rather large collection of these so I’d need to know where it was used (region, topography, farm name if possible. That way we can ascertain if we hold an example of that style from that part of the country. In the absence of that information we might conceivably be interested in acquiring it with hands on access in mind. It would still be accessioned and treated as part of the core collection but would also be available for handling use. // Food for thought. Not sure if I’m available on Friday but get back to me with what you know about provenance between now and then and I’ll do what I can to meet you on Friday if possible. // Best, // Ollie’, Email, Rebecca Townsend to Ollie Douglas, 19 November 2018 – ‘Hi Ollie, // I was told to send you an email regarding bringing gifts to the museum. // I am visiting the museum on friday the 23rd of November with my elderly farther of 82 who has been a farmer his entire life and still is! Its very rare that I can get him to leave the farm but he was very interested to come and pay a visit to your museum as its basically all about his life and memories! // He has produced a hundred year old field drain that is apparently quite rare (?) he wanted to give to the museum. When I phoned up to ask if this was o.k I was advised to send pictures to see if it would be something of interest, as you must of course get a lot of objects presented to you on a daily basis. I also didn't want my farther to bring it if it is of no interest. // I would massively appreciate it if you can let me know your thoughts and sorry for sending this email so close to the date of our visit. // look forward to hearing, // Kind regards’

1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31

Nineteenth century

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