Object number
55/189
Description
This fork, known as a burning fork, was used to gather together field rubbish, such as brush and grass, for burning. The rubbish was usually burnt along with a small amount of top soil and the resultant ash was spread on the field as fertiliser. This fork has seven prongs and at the top of the fork, where the head joins the handle, is an iron bar to prevent the burning material spilling over onto the wooden handle. It belonged to John Anstee's great-grandfather,Thomas Hayden, a farm labourer of Great Canfield and High Roding, Essex, who died in 1890.
Physical description
1 burning fork: wood; metal
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This fork belonged to Thomas Hayden of Great Canfield, who died in 1890 aged 87 years. It was used for collecting field rubbish together for burning. A small amount of top soil was usually mixed with this rubbish, and the resultant ash was spread over the field as a fertiliser. It consists of 5 [7] flattened prongs, each 9 inches in length. The head is 11.5 inches wide and the handle is 32 inches long. The handle has a hollow hand grip. Running parallel to the head is a rounded bar of iron, which apparently is fixed there to prevent the burning material from spilling over the wooden handle. The whole tool measures 41.5 inches long.'
Production date
1850-01-01 - 1899-12-31
Production period
Nineteenth century, second half
Object name
Material
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_867.tif - High resolution image
