51/12

This is a basket in which peaches, nectarines and other delicate fruit were packed and sent to market in London. This form of basket was returned and re-used. There are traces of two initials on the front, once painted in red.

1 basket: willow (brown)

MERL Miscellaneous note - A handwritten note in the accession file signed 'A. Heseltine 1980' notes: "This basket is still made & used today throughout France for fruit'., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: POTTLE // Acc. No.: 51/9 & 51/10 // Group: MARKETING. Fruit // Neg. no.: 35/39 // Place of origin: Sunbury. Middlesex // Period in use: Prior to 1850 // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Wood/willow. Split willow, probably pollard. Place of origin – from Mr. W. Townshend, Spelthorne Farm, Sunbury // Shape and construction: The shape of a hood or poke made of chip with a single chip handle over the top. 4 leagues, no waling. Randing with 1/4” – 5/16” chips. Leagues a little wider and thicker // Dimensions: Height: 11” Diam. top: 3 1/4” Diam. bottom: 1” // Use: For picking & marketing strawberries & raspberries. Said to be hung round the waist when picking. When full, loaded into a large basket called a Marne* & carried on a woman’s head to London. Not returnable. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes: *see S.G.1,2,3 W.C.7. T.C. 17 & W.S.5’

1900

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)