51/564

This is an inverted brass cup sheep bell with a clapper which gives a very clear sound. It originally had two pairs of straps, linked by another strap, by which it would be hung around the sheep's neck. Bells were used by shepherds to help them locate their sheep.

1 sheep bell: metal (brass); leather; wood; good condition- one strap and leather yoke missing

Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) - 'A list of the contents of the East Hendred museum. July 5 1940 // Shepherd's Andrews's "ship tackles". // 13-16. Four cup bells with their harness' (Smith's description could also be in reference to the other cup bell in the collection, 51/564), Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) page 1 - 'No.13 // [pencil sketch] // Cup bell or scotch bell', Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 334 // Three Cup Bells with their Harness // Lent by MERL Miss Smith c.', Object history research, December 2022 - 'How can this object be described? The sheep bell has inverted brass cup of metal with a clapper. The strap is made of stiff leather with a wooden toggle at one end. // What was this object used for? Bells were used by shepherds to help them locate their sheep. It originally had two pairs of straps, linked by another strap, so it could be hung around the sheep's neck. // How old is it? It was used by Shepherd Andrews in East Hendred, Oxfordshire, before 1940. Thomas and James Andrews were shepherds in East Hendred as was their father Mr Andrews. // Why do sheep wear bells? Sheep were left to graze freely around the fields. Bells allowed the shepherd to check the location of the sheep. This is an inverted brass cup sheep bell with a clapper which gives a very clear sound. // Which other objects in the collection relate to the sheep bells? Lavinia Smith collected rural objects from friends and neighbours in the East Hendred area. This photograph of a shepherd [MERL 51/847] is from her collection. It shows a shepherd with his crook in front of a flock of sheep.'

Wood, Metal, brass, Leather

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)
Andrews