Description (Physical description)
Agricultural tool. Wooden shovel with concave head edged with iron. Wooden shaft and T-shaped handle.
Event Date 28/8/2018
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Context (Analysis)
Enid Porter (1969), 'Fenland Peat', in Studies in Folk Life: Essays in honour of Iorwerth C Peate describes a tool very similar to this object 'The digging tool was a T-handled spade (see Fig 3.), of seasoned willow, which was light in weight yet could cut through the heavy gault clay as though throught butter. The cutting edge was hardened by being charred in the fire and further protected by a coat of red lead paint reaching halfway up the blade'.
Event Date 10/1/2025
Author: Stephanie Chinneck

Description (Physical description)
Wooden shovel, consisting of wooden concave head, cutting edge trimmed with iron, sloping shoulders; tang cut at a diagonal and attached to handle with iron plates held in place with nails and rivets at both the end of the tang and shaft; cylindrical shaft with T shaped handle fitted on to end of shaft and reinforced with a single iron nail. Dirt from use remaining on head.
Event Date 10/1/2025
Author: Stephanie Chinneck

Context (Amendments / updates)
A note was found with TEMP.00544-00550, newly bagged and tied to TEMP.00551, with the word 'Wales'. It is possible that these items have been identified as coming from Wales, it is also possible that this note has ended up with these objects but does not relate to them. A second note was found with TEMP.00544-00568, newly bagged and tied to TEMP.00547, with '?Fens Unprovenanced' and so the geographic areas covering 'The Fens' has also been added to the place and production fields.
Event Date 10/1/2025
Author: Stephanie Chinneck

Conservation (Freezing)
CON.2025.6135 | Freezing
Event Date 20/1/2025
Author: Kirsty Kernohan