51/588

A shepherd uses his crook to catch sheep by the hind leg, or by the neck in the case of lambs. This crook comes from East Hendred in Oxfordshire. The wrought iron crook head is of the type from Pyecombe, East Sussex, one of the three important centres for crook-making, although many crooks were made by local blacksmiths to local requirements. There is a spud fixed to the bottom of the ash handle, but its purpose is unclear.

1 crook: metal (wrought iron); wood (ash); good condition- complete

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This is a shepherd’s crook from East Hendred (Berks). It is complete with wooden handle, and wrought iron head. The head is made in the Pyecombe style, with a deep groove over the hook. The end of the barrel splits into two tongue-like pieces which are fixed to the handle by four nails. // The handle is ash and measures 48.5 inches in length. There is a spud fixed to the bottom of the handle. The use of this is obscure, but it may have been for pecking turnips for feeding purposes or for weeding. NOT CONNECTED WITH STOCK HANDLING. // See also 51/572L.', MERL Catalogue Form (temporary) – 'Classification Crook Livestock - sheep // Museum number 51/588 // Negative number 35/871 // [pencil sketch]', No Lavinia Smith No. recorded., Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 337 // Shepherd's Crook // Lent by MERL Miss Smith c.' (This description could also be in reference to 51/575, 51/576, 51/574, 51/589, 51/572, 51/640 and 51/573), Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 338 // Shepherd's Crook // Lent by MERL Miss Smith c.' (This description could also be in reference to 51/575, 51/576, 51/574, 51/589, 51/572, 51/640 and 51/573), Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 339 // Shepherd's Crook // Lent by MERL Miss Smith c.' (This description could also be in reference to 51/575, 51/576, 51/574, 51/589, 51/572, 51/640 and 51/573), Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 370 // Shepherd's Crook // Lent by MERL Miss Smith c.' (This description could also be in reference to 51/575, 51/576, 51/574, 51/589, 51/572, 51/640 and 51/573)

Wood, ash, Metal, iron

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)