Object number
54/226
Description
This clapper type bird scarer was used on the donor's farm at Sackers Green until 1918. The initials 'G. H.' are carved on one of the pieces of wood, and 'H' is carved across the handle. It is therefore likely that it was made by and belonged to the donor's grandfather. The clappers consist of three pieces of wood each containing two holes through which a string passed to hold them together (the string was broken, and has since been replaced with a leather thong).
Physical description
1 bird scarer: wood
Label Text
Bird scarer. This device would have been used to scare birds by making a loud noise designed to cause the birds to fly away. A person usually a child would be a 'human scarecrow' standing in the fields all day to make noise and scare the birds out of the fields so they would not eat the farmers crops. It was created somewhere between 1800-99 and was used until 1918.
Archival history
MERL miscellaneous note - 'Loan of 7 objects to the BBC (Generation Game) // ... // 54/226 Bird Scarer // Wooden clappers with one central and two moveable side pieces. From Gt. Cornard, Suffolk. Probably made on the farm and often used by children to scare birds from crops. 19th century. // ...'
Production place
Sackers Green
Production date
1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31
Production period
Nineteenth century
Object name
Material
Associated subject
