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James Wyatt (Maker)

This traditional garden wheelbarrow was made by James Wyatt, wheelwright at Ashstead, Surrey, in the early-twentieth century. It was originally painted 'garden green' on the outside, grey on the inside and red on the wheels. This barrow is a professional gardener's size, but Wyatt also made larger stable barrows and smaller barrows for more amateur gardeners.

1 wheelbarrow: wood, metal

MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – 'BARROW // Large wooden wheelbarrow with detachable upper section.', Letter, Victor Schafer to MERL, 23 May 1961 - 'The original colours were ordinary "Garden Green" outside (I do not know the pigment). Grey-vegetable black + white lead-inside and a red-lead wheel. There is a bit of iron screwed to one leg which causes me to wonder if the feet were ever shod. But I think not, because I made one of these barrows under James Wyatt's supervision about 1925, and had they ever been shod in any way I feel sure he would have told me. // This was a professional gardener's size of barrow. James certainly made much larger stable barrows, and I believe smaller amateur's barrows, "Ladies" barrows, by courtesy., Letter, Victor Schafer to MERL, 5 May 1961 - 'Have you a use for a good example of a traditional wheelbarrow? // James Wyatt, wheelwright here till about 30 years ago, had a particularly high reputation for barrows. Indeed it was a village joke that if he ever appeared on the honours list it would be as 'Viscount Wheelbarrow'... // I have one of these complete with original wooden wheel, with split-and-tab shut tyre, and leaf top. The head board is loose. // You are welcome to the thing if you would like it.'

Ashstead

1900-01-01 - 1924-12-31

Early-twentieth century

Wood, Metal