51/854

This is a basketwork strainer for use in the home brewing of beer. It is made of white willow, gone dark in colour, in the shape of a bottle with a flat base and back and a rounded front. The strainer was placed inside the mash tun over the inner end of the tap and acted as a filter when straining the liquid from the mash of steeped malt. The linen tape attached to the rim of the strainer allows its easy removal from the tub. Home brewing was a common practice until 1914 when it became necessary to have a licence.

1 strainer: basketwork (white willow); good condition- has gone dark in colour

Previous Adlib description – 'The strainer was placed inside the mash tun over the inner end of the tap. This then separated the liquid from the 'mash' when the tap was opened to pour. The linen tape attached to the rim of the strainer allows its easy removal from the tub. Dialect names for the strainer include 'wilsh', 'wilch', 'fead', 'thread' and 'tap hose' from East Anglia, and 'faucet' in Devon. The reason it is dated as simply 'before 1914' is because after this time a licence was required for home brewing.', No Lavinia Smith No. recorded., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: STRAINER (basketwork) Other name – HUCKMUCK // Acc. No.: 51/854 // Group: PROCESSING Hops beer // Collection: Lavinia Smith // Neg. no.: 35/1684 // Place of origin: // Period in use: Before 1914. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Wood/white willow, string // Shape and construction: A bottle-shape, flat at the bottom & one side. Bottom is semi-circle. Randed with 4 bands of wale. Border 4-behind-1 on the open rim. 19 stakes scallomed on to arch shaped hoop of bottom and carried up the side. String for removing tied over rim. // Dimensions: Bottom: 7 1/2” x 6”. Height: 9”. Neck: 2” x 1 1/2” // Use: In the home-brewing of ale. It acted as a filter when straining the liquid from the “mash” of steeped malt. It fitted over the tap inside the tub, like a sock. // Dialect names: “Wilsh, wilch, fead, thread, taphose” (E. Anglia) Faucet in Devon. // Distribution: // Additional notes: See 51/583 for refs. See S. & P. [Basketmakers’ Lists of Sizes and Prices of Work] 1850. p. 59. no description. Making cost 5d. // Other obj. (strainer/huckmuck) ref no 51/853'

Strainer, beer, Basketwork

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)
Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)