65/323

T. R. Carpenter (Manufacturer)

This bushel basket is of the type used for selling fruit and vegetables with a horse and cart, in the days before lorries. It is a very local basket, found only in the Sandwich and Wingham areas of East Kent, and was in common use until the 1950s. It is an elongated oval-shaped basket, made of white willow, with tall straight slewed sides – the shape means that it packs and stacks well. It was made by T. R. Carpenter, a basketmaker from Sandwich, Kent.

1 basket: willow (white)

MERL ‘Stakeholders’ recording form, October 2014 – Object number: 65/323 (Bushel) // Name of recorder: Mary Butcher // General construction method: Stake and strand // Overall shape: Oval, straight sided. // Materials: White willow throughout. // Base: Underfoot base. 6 layers, in pairs at ends, 2 separated between them. Layers 8 ¼” (20.9cm). Layers shaved on underside. All weaving rods used throughout base. Tied in 3 times each end so paired round ends and randed down sides. All very thick, probably 9-foot rods. Pairing all round after the 3 ties, starting always with the butts, pricked off near the centre and pricked in near the edge (the last 4 rods or 2 pairs). Strong crown side to side and end to end. 17 positions at edge of base for stakes. // Sides: 26 stakes. Upsett 4-rod wale, in front of 3 behind 1. Butts slyped and pricked in, see over for positions of stakes [diagram]. Slightly waisted side. 4-rod wale starting with pricked in butts at opposite ends (1, 2, 3, 4 on diagram). 3 of them in one position where a thick, slyped wedge has been driven in beside the base stick to spread the waling rods. A pull-down wale. Each set becomes a 3-rod wale after the 1st pull-down round, worked out to tips. One round above this, starting with tips on one side only, 1 butt join and back to tips. Siding – slewing, 2- and 3-rod, starting to left of one long side. Chasing, so 2 sets of weavers. No top wale or pairing. // Border: 6 rod behind 2 border. 8 crams to finish, as finish one long side and go round the end. // Handles: N/A // Lid: N/A // Dimensions: Base length 17” (43.2cm); width 12 ½” (31.8cm); crown 1” (2.5cm); base width including upsett 19” (48.2cm). Height to top of border 15” (38.1cm). OM (Outside Measure) Width at top at border 15 ¼” (38.8cm), end to end 21” (53.3cm). IM (Inside Measure) Width just below border 12 ¾” (32.5cm), end to end 17 ¼” (43.8cm). IM width onto border 12” (30.4cm); length onto border 17 ¼” (44cm). // Anything else to note about this particular basket: – // Anything else to note about this type of basket: –, Also in the Museum's collection is a taped interview with T. R. Carpenter from 23/10/65., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: Basket (BUSHEL) // Acc. No.: 65/323 // Group: MARKETING. FRUIT // Neg. no.: 60/6340 // Place of origin: East Kent. // Period in use: Up to 10 years ago, it went out gradually. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: White willow. // Shape and construction: A long high oval with straight sides in best slewing. Heavy border 6-behind-2. 4 rounds upsett. No top wale. // Dimensions: Length 18” Width 13” Height 14” B.S. [number of bottom sticks] 2.6. St. [number of stakes] 26 // Use: For selling fruit & vegetables with a horse & cart, before lorries. It packs & stacks well. // Dialect names: // Distribution: East Kent only. Very local. Sandwich & Wingham area. // Additional notes: see Notebook I. p.66 // also tape interview T.R. Carpenter. 23.10.65'

Sandwich

Basket, fruit, Basket, vegetable

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)
Butcher, Mary (Recorder)