57/362/1-2

These mud shoes, also known as mudboards, were worn when walking over mud flats to prevent sinking. They originally came from Burnham Overy in Norfolk, where the donor assumes they were used for walking across the Norfolk mud-flats. An answer to an article in The Countryman Vol. LIV, 1957, suggested that such shoes were worn by wildfowl hunters.

1 pair of mud shoes: wood; rope

MERL ‘Associated information’ form – 'Shoes [Mud] // Permanent Loan. // [pencil sketch]', MERL miscellaneous note - '57/362/1-2 Pair of Mudboards. // Lt. Col. P. Hawker // Instructions to Young Sportsmen in all that relates to Guns and Shooting. // 9th edition, London 1844.', Letter, E. E. Townsley to MERL, 6 January 1958 - 'Dear Sir // The Winter edition of your valued publication has just come to hand. A full description as to the use of wooden mudboards is given by Colonel Peter Hawker in the ninth edition of his "Guns and Shooting" published in 1844 - page 383 shows illustration and description. // Page 393 of the same publication shows a hand mudboard also used in fen Wildfowl shooting. Illustrations and particulars as to construction will be found on Page 397 of the same volume. Hand mudboards were used when launching for wildfowl. // ... For illustration showing mudboards in use by Essex Marshman see "Shore-shooting Equipment" April 7th 1950. (Country Life)', Press cutting [The Countryman Vol. LIV 1957] – 'Rescuing the Past // We welcome photographs or sketches of unidentified objects, farm implements, craftsmen's and other tools and household objects, with brief descriptions and notes on their history and present whereabouts. These are sent to John Higgs, now Lecturer in the History of Agricultural at Oxford, who will continue to report on them in cooperation with the Museum of English Rural Life at Reading. // The wooden mud-shoes illustrated on this page were sent by H. C. Hughes, of Burnham Overy Staithe, Norfolk. They measure 11 in. by 9 1/2 in. and have crossed slats nailed to the undersides. The wearer apparently placed his shoes in the frames on top and held the strings to keep them in place. Mr Hughes has not been able to discover who used them but assumes that they were for walking across the mud-flats that abound along the Norfolk coast.'