51/449

This is a wooden linen screw press for pressing linen in the final stage of the laundering process. It comes from Chapel-en-le-Frith in Derbyshire.

1 linen press: wood (mahogony?); good condition

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: line press // Accession number: 51/449 // Classification: Domestic cleaning laundering ironing // Negative number: 60/13732 // Acquisition method: Gift // Acquired from, date: [...] Alcester, Worcs. // Store: // Condition: Good // Recorder, date: DJE, 13.3.81 // Description: Screw press of wood (mahogany)? The base is plain and the screw is operated by a cross bar handle. // Dimensions: Width 67 cm. Depth 37cm. Height (approx) 85 cm // Associated information: 'Pressing was a linen room operation, the last stage before the clothes and linen were put away with lavender and rosemary... presses were made in various sizes of which linen were the largest, napkins the medium and lace the smallest size... Linen and napkin presses were both made in considerable numbers in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. They can only be dated accurately by comparison with constructional details and period features of furniture. // References: E.H. Pinto, 'Treen and Other Wooden Bygones', 1969, p.154.', MERL ‘Conservation Record’ – ‘Class: // Name: linen press // Acc. No.: // Conservator: G Elk // Date: 6.8.81 // part/whole: treatment: Washed with detergent. Rentokil QD. method: Wiped with rag. Brush. // part/whole: repair: method: // part/whole: finish: Microcrystalline wax method: // [tick box, unticked] tick when noted on catalogue sheet’