Object number
57/208
Description
This sledge was used by a butcher and farmer in the Weardale area of County Durham. It is thought to date to 1860/1880, and was probably made in the local area. It was used to deliver meat in the dale. The sledge is covered, but this is a new addition; the donor claims that it was formerly not the custom to used covered carts but to cover the meat in an open cart with a clean sheet.'
Label Text
Butcher's sledge. Used in the Weardale area of County Durham, this sledge was used by a 19th century butcher to deliver meat. Meat-eating became widespread in the Victorian period, although the quality of cuts available to rich and poor differed greatly. Shopping at a butcher was typically a daily occurrence, as without refrigeration it was difficult to keep meat fresh. Heavily salting the meat was one way to combat this, although many thought this spoiled the flavour. Delivering meat via sledges would have been more commonplace in rural areas. In cities, the close proximity to a large customer base made this unnecessary.
Archival history
MERL ‘Associated information’ form – 'see accompanying enquiry form. // Presumed to be local. // [pencil sketch] // Age // 1860/1880 // Who made it and where? Presumed local. // Who used it and where? // Forebears of the present owners well known butcher/farmers of old standing. Used on delivery work in dale. // ... // Any other information // This sledge is covered although the actual wood of the cover is much more recent the present owner tells me tha [sic] formerly it was not the custom to used [sic] a covered cart but to cover the meat in an open cart with a clean sheet.'
Production date
1860 - 1880
Object name
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
