81/151

Brades (Manufacturer)

This is a steel pitchfork with an ash handle. It bears the stamp, 'Brades'. It was used for harvesting. This pitchfork, together with a number of other items, were recovered from a garden shed at Gordon Cottage, Coworth Road, Sunningdale, near Windsor. It belonged to Charles Kettle, the donor's grandfather, who died in the 1930s. The Kettle family lived on the Earl of Derby's estate at Coworth Park, Sunningdale, in a cottage on what was known as Granny Kettle's Lane, which is now a public footpath. Charles Kettle moved to Church Lodge, Whitmore Lane and set up as an odd job builder. He built stables which he let to the local dairy.

1 pitchfork: metal (steel); wood (ash); good condition- bit rusty

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: Pitchfork // Accession number: 81/151 // Classification: Harvesting // Negative number: 60/15641 // Acquisition method: Gift // Acquired from, date: Mrs Godden [...], 21.9.1981 // Store: // Condition: Good: bit rusty // Recorder, date: DJE, 28.9.1981 // Description: Pitchfork with steel prongs and ash handle. Stamped 'Brades'. // Dimensions: Length: 1.81m. // Associated information: From garden shed at 'Gordon Cottage' Coworth Rd., Sunningdale. Formerly belonged to Charles Kettle who died in the 1930s. // References:', Letter, MERL to Mrs Godden, 29 September 1981 – 'Dear Mrs. Godden, // This is just to thank you for the gift of the objects from your garden shed and for being so kind as to supply us with the additional information about the Kettle family; this greatly adds to the value of our records for these objects. // It was certainly worth us making the visit. The firedogs and wooden rake especially, are fine and rare examples and found less frequently these days. // Yours sincerely, // David J. Eveleigh // Assistant Keeper'

Wood, ash, Metal, steel