63/11/1-11

Eleven hand-forged gate furnishings (hinges and latch) from a wooden field gate at Heron's Farm in Wheathampsted, Hertfordsire.
Eleven hand-forged gate furnishings (hinges and latch) from a wooden field gate at Heron's Farm in Wheathampsted, Hertfordsire.

MERL ‘Handwritten catalogue’ form – ‘See also shovel 51/421 & 57/347: See correspondence. This gate was made of oak & cherry wood & was at Heron’s Farm, Wheathampstead. The separate parts have been included under “GATE FURNISHINGS” since they all belong to the same gate or pair of gates.’, Note, Jean Paterson to MERL, January 1963 – ‘The gate hinges & latch. // From an oak & cherry gate at Heron’s Farm Wheathampstead. // The farm is on Gustardwood Common one mile north of Wheathampstead Village. It was bought by my Father in 1925 from the Gorhumbury Estate who ad been the owners since the Middle Ages – the tenants had been there several generations. // The records show it was granted by the Norman Conbere[?] to William de la Heron, in 1226. (I never can make these dates fit). Heron’s then had 1000 acres. Now has 175.’, Letter, Jessie Paterson to MERL, 14 December 1962 – ‘We have just been destroying the remains of an old field gate. We do not know the age but it had to be considerably repaired in 1925 or so. We have saved the furnishings which seem hand forged, in case they are of interest to you. // In these parts wooden gates are not being replaced. Metal ones are everyone, even old metal Victorian affairs because the motorist takes any available wood for his own purposes. Our local smith simply was not interested. // …’

Gate latch, Hinge

Paterson, Jessie (Agent)