Object number
62/513
Creator
Description
This is a west country bow wagon or 'ship' wagon with curved sides and elegant proportions typical of the wagons of many parts of Somerset. It is inscribed on the front board 'H. R. ROBERTS // LORDS LEAZE FARM. CHARD', and was made in 1894 by C. Bailey, wagon builder of Coombe St. Nicholas, Nr. Chard, Somerset, for George Hicks of Lords Leaze Farm, Chard.
Physical description
1 wagon: wood; metal; good condition, but some decay
Label Text
This kind of wagon is called a 'ship' or 'boat' type both because of its curved shape and its side, which extends over the read wheels like the hull of a ship. Its wheelwright, Charles Bailey, would originally have mixed his own lead-based paints using pigments such as venetian red.SOMERSET BOW WAGON. Bow wagons are elegant constructions in which longitudinal timbers attached to the sides of the wagon, called ‘raves’, rise in a gentle arch over the rear wheels. This allows greater loads to be carried. This west country bow wagon or ‘ship’ wagon has curved sides and elegant proportions typical of the wagons of many parts of Somerset and Devon. It was built by C. Bailey, wagon builder of Combe St. Nicholas, near Chard in 1894, and used at Lords Leaze Farm at Chard. This date and the builder’s name are painted on the tail-board. MERL 62/513.
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'This is a west country bow wagon or 'ship' wagon with curved sides and elegant proportions typical of the wagons of many parts of Somerset. The wagon has spindle sides, sideboards with iron struts and end ladders. The body is painted blue with yellow end boards. The wheels and undercarriage are painted red. The shafts are inside the wagon together with a drag shoe. // Inscription: on front board // H. R. ROBERTS // LORDS LEAZE FARM. CHARD // ... This wagon was made in 1894 by C. Bailey waggon builder, of Coombe St. Nicholas, Nr. Chard, Somerset, for George Hicks of Lords Leaze Farm, Chard. Mr Hicks was Mr Roberts' Great Uncle.'
Production place
Combe Saint Nicholas
Production date
1894 - 1894
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_4222.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_4223.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_4224.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_4225.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_4226.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_4227.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_4228.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_4229.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_10965.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_10966.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_10973.tif - High resolution image
