51/527

This sickle, which does not have a saw edge, came from Berkshire, or possibly Oxfordshire, and was used for harvesting crops by hand.
This sickle, which does not have a saw edge, came from Berkshire, or possibly Oxfordshire, and was used for harvesting crops by hand.

1 sickle: metal; wood

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This sickle came from Berkshire, but nothing more is known of its origin. There is no trace of a saw edge on the blade. The wooden handle measures 6 inches in length and has been turned. The blade measures 23 inches in length and ends in quite a sharp point. // See also 51/59M.', Many of the places in Berkshire from which Lavinia Smith acquired objects are now in Oxfordshire., Lavinia Smith No. 228., Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) - A list of the contents of the East Hendred museum. July 5 1940 // Heating and Cooking // 226-230. Four old sickles. One bought from Thomas Fairbrother of Marcham, one found on the dump, one given me by John and Alice Howard and one (with a saw edge) by Henry Tyrrell of Hatwell.' (See also 51/526 and 51/525 - note that one of the four sickles mentioned in Smith's catalogue appears to be missing), Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 336 // Two Sickles // Lent by MERL Miss Smith c.' (This description could also be in reference to 51/526 and 51/525)

Wood, Metal

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)
Fairbrother, Thomas
Howard, John
Howard, Alice