Object number
99/29/1-4
Description
A square wooden egg box, for transporting eggs by rail. It has a hinged lid, a clasp fastening and a handle. Inside are three complete cardboard separators (there would have been four), and the box could hold 12 dozen (144) eggs. A label on the box indicates that it was destined for Sindlesham Poultry Farm in Berkshire, run by the donor's father, with carriage paid as far as Winnersh.
Physical description
1 egg box with 3 separators: wood; metal; card; fair condition- 1 separator missingLabel inside box says 'Carriage Paid' and asks box to be returned to Sindlesham Poultry Farm.
Label Text
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>3. <B>Egg box</B><P>Used during the middle years of the twentieth century by a Berkshire poultry farmer to transport eggs via the local railway. This small, square wooden box can be packed with a total of 144 eggs, each egg placed in an individual compartment in one of four cardboard separator layers that fit inside the box. One of these layers can be seen to the right of the picture. To make sure that all those handling the box knew what it contained, the word 'EGGS' was stamped on all sides.<P>99/29</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV><DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>6. <B>Egg box</B><P>Used during the middle years of the twentieth century by a Berkshire poultry farmer to transport eggs via the local railway. This small, square wooden box can be packed with a total of 144 eggs, each egg placed in an individual compartment in one of four cardboard separator layers that fit inside the box. One of these layers can be seen to the right of the open box. To make sure that all those handling the box knew what it contained, the word 'EGGS' was stamped on all sides.<P>99/29</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Standard museum name: EGG BOX // Accession number: 99/29/1–4 // … // Recorder: JMB // Date: 15.9.99 // Description: A smaller square wooden box with dovetail joints. The lid has large strap hinges and a clasp fastening plus a carrying handle. A label inside addressed to Sindlesham Poultry Farm. Carriage paid to Winnersh Halt. // Stamped: EGGS on each side. // There are 3 complete cardboard separators inside plus (one broken one MISSING) each would hold 36 = 3 doz. eggs i.e. 12 doz total (144 eggs) // Dimensions: 36 x 28 x 33 cms // Associated information: Used for transporting eggs by rail. // See attached information’, MERL Miscellaneous note – ‘Sweethaven, the property on Mole Rd, where Mr G. Morris lives is a former three acre smallholding that will shortly have house built over it. // The property was purchased by Mr Morris’ father, C. H. Morris, in 1934 as a smallholding and poultry farm. C. H. Morris was born around 1880 and lived until the early 1960’s. He came from a wealthy stockbroking family in London – the firm was called Livermore, Morris and Spurling. However, he suffered from bad health and while in his early twenties was given medical advice to get out of London and pursue a more open air lifestyle. So he went first as a pupil in poultry farming to Sussex, subsequently as poultry manager to Broughton Castle near Banbury, where he met and married his wife. Later, he had a spell as farm manager to the Colebrook family in Shinfield, then as poultry manager on the Minley Estate, near Sandhurst. He left in 1934 to set up on his own at ‘Sweethaven’ in Sindlesham.’
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