Acton Scott Heritage Farm
I contacted my closest heritage museum, where I've been involved as a volunteer, to see if they had any baskets that might be useful for my traditional basket module. The farm closed down during lockdown and is in the process of setting up as a charity to reopen to the public. The new director and volunteer coordinator showed me the baskets that they had and passed on any information they had on them. I was also honoured to meet a former Westhope City & Guilds level 2 student amongst the volunteers who were all busy making rag rugs.
Oak swill
This was a lovely oak swill with some age to it that had been used on the farm when it was a working farm.
Reproduction of a poultry basket
A volunteer made this basket as demonstration basket and to hold poultry for demonstrations, as there are limitations on the public being able to hold birds due to bird flu.
New invention: chick demonstration basket
This was a basket volunteers made to hold chicks for showing to the public. This one worked but another one with lower sides resulted in chicks escaping.
Round basket with loop handle and decorative border
This was a lovely decorative basket that had some age to it but no one knew how old it was. It was in the bailiff's cottage so may have been used by the bailiff's wife for errands.
Down the rabbit hole - click here.
Small picnic basket with lid
This basket was in the back room (possibly a pantry) off the scullery in the bailiff's house. One of the volunteers thought that it was for taking on picnics as it is the same shape as picnic baskets but approximately 10x8 inches.
Reproduction oval basket
This was a demonstration basket made recently by a volunteer with some lovely slewing.
Bicycle basket
We were pretty certain this was a bicycle basket as it was rounded at the front with a flat back and a gap in the weave to allow for a fastening or perhaps the handle stem to pass through.
Rectangular basket frame basket
This was another lovely basket tucked away in the scullery of the bailiff's house. Possibly for use picking soft fruit as the shallow design with a large surface area would be good for collecting raspberries and strawberries without them squashing under their own weight.
There are some lovely details on the handle wrapping and variation in the base weave.