Hand beetle
John Boyle
Category
Wooden objects
Date
1998
Materials
Beechwood
Measurements
335 mm (Length)90 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Springhill
Order this imageCollection
Wellbrook Beetling Mill, County Tyrone
NT 283322.2
Summary
One of two beech wood hand beetles used in the finishing process of linen manufacture, prior to mechanisation with an automated beetling engine. The linen fabric would be pounded by hand using wooden hand beetles to flatten the fibres and spread them together, both to produce a smooth and glowing finish and to stengthen the fabric. The smaller of the two hand beetles (WBM.WD.1,b) is for use by a woman. The larger hand beetle (WBM.WD.1,a) is for use for by a man. Possibly made by John Boyle, estate joiner at Springhill, c.1998, as part of the interpretation of Wellbrook Beetling Mill and the history of linen manufacture.
Makers and roles
John Boyle, joiner