Object number
51/5
Description
Flails were used to thresh crops separating the grain from the husks. The origin is unknown, it resembles the Essex style of construction.
Flails were commonly used to thresh corn and other crops to separate the grain from the husks. They were used before the development of threshing machines. Threshing by flail provided winter work for labourers and was done on a threshing floor in a barn. A flail usually consists of a handle, a 'swingel' (the swinging part of the flail which hits the grain) and a 'swivel' joint to join the two together. The origin of this flail is unknown, but it resembles the Essex style of construction. Unlike most types of flail, this one has no swivel on the end of the handle.
Physical description
1 flail: wood (ash and birch); leather
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘DESCRIPTION: …Nothing is known of the origin of this flail, but it has some resemblance to the Essex style of construction. The hand-staff is made of ash and measures 47 inches in length. The swingel is birch and measures 31 inches in length. There is a cap of ash steamed to the shape of a hoop and bound over the end of the staff by leather thongs. The end of the swingel is bound with a cap of leather, fastened to the wood by thongs. The original flail hinging is missing, and has been replaced by the Museum. Unlike most types of flail, there is no swivel on the end of the hand-staff.'
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External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\35 series negatives\Scans\35_1.tif - High resolution image
