Object number
60/42
Description
This is a probably a hawk trap, which would have been mounted on the end of a long pole and set up in the open. Hawks were caught because they attacked and killed young poultry. It has two serrated semi-circular jaws which are held open by a spring – the spring is released when the fork-like trigger on which bait would be placed is pressed. The donor found the trap on top of a pole in Medmenham, Buckinghamshire.
Physical description
1 hawk trap: metal; good condition
Label Text
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>'Hawk trap // Wild bird trapping has a long history and steel traps were set on poles by land owners to protect game animals. These traps were indiscriminate, causing a great deal of pain and suffering for many kinds of birds. Social attitude changed and government policy had to change to keep up with the people, so in 1904 the pole trap was finally banned. // Successful breeding programmes have seen the numbers of some endangered wild birds soar again. For example, Reading is one of the best places in the country to see red kites. When you leave, look up and see if you can find one. // Label written by Richard Kelly (Zoology).'</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Standard museum name: … // Accession number: … // Classification: … // Negative number: … // Acquisition method: … // Acquired from: … // Date: … // Store: … // Condition: … // Recorder: KCS // Date: 23/3/94 // Description: Small trap complete and in working order. Two serrated semicircles are held open by the spring, which is in turn held down by a metal flap held open by a hinge, the other end of which protrudes up like a two pronged fork into the space above the middle of the trap. When this is pressed, the spring is released bringing the two semi circles together. Attached to it is a chain with a circle on the end. // Dimensions: Diameter of base 10.2cm. Height 6cm approx. Length of chain 38.5cm. // Associated information: (1) Many larger birds were considered pests… One of the most common ways of taking these was with the Pole Trap, which was very similar in design to the gin trap except that its base was circular, its arms jaws crescent-shaped, and the spring arm cunningly modified to a curve following the contours of the base… it was set on top of gate posts & poles, favourite perching places of birds of prey. // (2) There are, however, less humane spring traps… which do not kill immediately and which can cause immense suffering to captive birds. These are pole traps, which are nothing more nor less than gin or steel traps attached to wooden poles… writing in 1913 about ‘Wildlife in Wales’, George Bolam described them as ‘relics of barbarous times’. // References: (1) Trapping & Poaching: Arthur Ingram (Shire Album 34). // (2) Animal Traps and Trapping: James Bateman (David & Charles).'
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_5595.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_5420.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\60_42_doc_01.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\60_42_doc_02.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\60_42_doc_03.tif - High resolution image
