Object number
68/151
Collection
Description
A root chopper, used for cutting up turnips and other roots for use as animal feed. It consists of a cross-shaped iron blade and a D-shaped wooden handle. It is part of the Sharp Collection of agricultural and dairying equipment.
Physical description
1 root chopper: metal (iron); wooden handle
Label Text
Root chopper. Root choppers are used to cut turnips and the roots of vegetables to feed to animals. The discovery that farm animals thrive off the roots of certain vegetables revolutionised livestock farming in the medieval period. Previously, animals such as pigs were not kept in significant numbers throughout the winter, as there was not enough grass to sustain them. Instead, all but the breeding animals were slaughtered. Once turnips and other root vegetables were grown to sustain them, meat was more generally more available to the British population, even in the coldest months.
Archival history
The Sharp Collection of agricultural and dairying equipment was compiled by Reverend C. J. Sharp at Wonersh, Surrey. Reverend Sharp died in 1967 and the Museum acquired the Collection for £60 in 1968., MERL ‘Handwritten Catalogue’ form – ‘ROOT CHOPPER // 68/151 // LIVESTOCK // SHARP COLLECTION // Iron // Wood // [pencil drawing].’
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_9050.tif - High resolution image
