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Keg used to contain an agricultural labourer's daily ration of cider. Used up to c.1830 also called a 'costril'.
This is a keg, used to contain an agricultural labourer's daily ration of cider. It was used up to c.1830, after which, according to the donor, labourers started to bring their own beer. It is not known where this keg was used, but the donor claims that locally it was called a 'costril'. It previously had handles, now broken off, which enabled the keg to be hung from the hames of a carthorse.

1 keg: wood and metal [iron]; good condition

MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – 'KEG // The keg also known as a COSTRIL was used to contain the labourer's daily ration of cider. Used up to 1930. After that labourers brought their own beer. Used to have handles which hung on the hames of the carthorse. // Keg 7 1/2" long 7" diam. // 1 end missing and 1 iron band missing.', MERL Recording form – '2. When was it used // Used up to 1930. Rebelled then & bought their own beer. // ... 5. Has it a local name // COSTRIL (head wagonner's costril was [?]). // ... 11. Is it corroded or broken or damaged in any other way // Used to be handles - hung on the hames of the carthorse.'

1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31

Nineteenth century

Wood, Metal, iron