51/524

A spade iron was fastened to the underside of the boot to protect the footwear during hard digging, particularly digging potatoes, and to provide a solid surface on which to push. Nothing is known about the origin of this spade iron, which is missing the leather straps which would have held the iron in place on the boot.

1 spade iron: metal; fair condition

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'The spade iron was used to protect footwear during heavy digging. It was fastened under the right [or left] boot and provided a solid surface on which to push. // Nothing is known of the origin of this iron. It measures 4.75 in length, 3 inches in width and has projecting tongues of metal on both sides. These each have a slit near the top for the leathers which were fastened over the top of the boot. In this case the leathers are missing. // See also 51/120M.', MERL ‘Conservation Record’ form – ‘Object name: Spade iron // Object No.: 51/524 // Object Classification: Cultivating // part/whole: treatment: Electrolytic Reduction // Deoxidine method: Immersion // part/whole: repair: method: // part/whole: finish: 1 coat kempsynth method: Dipped // name: A Turner // date: 14/4/75'

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)