Library Catalogue

Please scroll through the catalogue and make a note of the Tool Code Number (e.g. WT290/G016) for any tool you would like to borrow.
(You can click on the thumbnail images for larger pictures of the tools.)

A loan application form will be found at the bottom of the Catalogue page,
and also on the Borrow Tools page. 


The Catalogue

You can download The Catalogue as a PDF (2MB) if required.

Tool Code Number Tool name How it’s used Dimensions (in) Dimensions (cm) Image
WT001/S005 Side Axe (head only)        
WT002/W034 Twybill Drill 2 holes and use blade for cutting between them to make a slot. Other end is used to hook waste material from slot Handle length: 6, Blade length: 11 Handle length: 15, Blade length: 28
WT003/G024 Bolster chisel Hit with a hammer to split stone/brick to specific sizes with a square edge Total length: 7, Head length: 1 1/4, Head width: 2  
WT004/F018 Billhook (No.9 – Newtown pattern?)   Blade length: 9  
WT006/W022 Drawknife   Handle length: 4 1/4, Blade length: 14  
WT007/F035 Bill hook Like an axe for chopping branches Handle length: 5, Blade length: 6 1/2 Handle length: 12, Blade length: 17
WT008 Slater’s hammer (?) Unsure Head length: 13, Handle length: 11 1/4  
WT009/F007 Splitting wedge For splitting timber along its length. Sometimes used to keep saw cut open when felling trees by hand. Length: 8 3/8, Width: 2 , Depth: 1 1/4  
WT010/F008 Wood splitting wedge (cleaving wedge) Riving or splitting timber Total length: 7 3/8, Width: 2 1/2  
WT011/G017 Slater’s hammer Used for splitting and dressing roofing stone. The slatter would shape the stone to the correct size as he worked. Head length: 10  
WT012/S039 Cooper’s Anvil The anvil is set upright in a block of wood, and used when punching rivet holes in hoops and when hammering over the rivets when joining the hoops. The holes in the top are used for punching rivet holes in hoops. Total length: 27 5/8, Head length: 7, Spike length: 5, Face: 1 7/8 x 2 3/160  
WT013/S002 Hole Punch Hold over leather and hit hard with a hammer Total length: 4 1/2, Handle width: 3/8, Cutting hole diameter: 3/4  
WT015/F038 Hand axe (Kent) General Handle length: 13, Blade length: 5 5/8, Blade width: 3 1/2 Handle length: 34, Blade length: 15, Blade width: 9
WT016/W025 Spokeshave   Total length: 10, Blade length: 3 Total length: 25, Blade length: 7
WT017/F017 Billhook? Pointing spars, cutting and laying edges etc. Question as to whether this is a broken hurdling tool (pointed tip of blade broken?) Total length: 14 3/4, Blade length: 9 1/2  
WT018/S004 Pick (needs handle)        
WT019 Colliers pick   Total length: 17  
WT021/S032 Rounding and trimming adze The knife edge part is used to cut the chime (see Salaman p.156) which is the bevel edge at the top of the staves. The other end is probably used as a hammer to knock down the hoops Head length: 10  
WT022/F040 Axe (Kent) General use Handle length: 14 1/2, Blade length: 7 1/2, Blade width: 4 1/2 Handle length: 36, Blade length: 19, Blade width: 11
WT023/A017 Vegetable scythe Small scythe to cut turnips etc. where they come out of the earth Handle length: 5 1/2, Blade length: 9 1/4, Blade width: 1 1/4  
WT024/G020 Rounder plane Used for rounding things such as rake and fork handles, trenails and dowels, putting a round taper on ladder rungs and working spoke tongues. The stick to be rounded is held in a vice or brake, and one end of the stick is placed in the mouth of the rounder, which cuts circumferentially across the grain when turned hand-over-hand. Total length: 13 1/4, Height: 4, Max. capacity: 2″ round  
WT025/W027 Spokeshave   Total length: 18, Blade length: 2 5/8 Total length: 46
WT026/F031 Bill hook (Newtown style) General rural work Total length: 14 3/4, Handle length: 5 3/4 Total length: 37.5, Handle length: 14.5  
WT027/F005 Bark peeling iron Peeling bark off oak. Coppice worker Handle length: 6, Blade length: 2 3/4 Handle length: 15, Blade length: 7.2
WT028/F003 Bark peeler Peeling bark from felled trees. Often used in conjunction with a shaving (peeling or rinding) brake Total length: 12 3/8, Blade length: 9  
WT029/W026 Adze   Total length: 32 3/4, Head length: 9, Head width: 3 5/8  
WT030/S009 Side Axe (head only)        
WT031/F043 Axe Chopping Total length: 17, Handle length: 15, Total width: 6 1/4 Total length: 45, Handle length: 38.5, Total width: 16
WT032/A032 Sickle Cutting crops – wheat, oat, barley, rye etc. Handle length: 5 3/8, Handle diameter: 1 1/2, Straight distance between base and tip of blade: 17  
WT033/F042 Axe (head only) General Length: 9 , Width: 5 1/2 Length: 23, Width: 14
WT034/G029 Key spanner A ‘lever’ for tightening something Total length: 5 1/4 Total length: 13, Diameter: 2.5
WT036/S001 Pick        
WT037/W010 Spiral auger A boring tool Total length: 14 3/8, Spiral length: 6 1/2, Spiral width: 1, Socket inside diameter: 1 1/80 Total length: 37.5, Sprial length: 16.5, Spiral width: 2.5, Socket inside diameter: 2.80
WT038 Twist auger   Total length: 12 1/4, Spiral length: 5 7/8, Spiral width: 3/4 Total length: 31, Spiral length: 15, Spiral width: 2  
WT040/F004 Bark peeler Billhook used to take off one long strip of bark and then the peeler is used (along with your thumbs) to peel off the bark Total length: 8, Blade length: 5, Handle length: 3, Diameter: 10  


WT041/G026 Chisel Used for cutting timber/hitting with a hammer to cut timber Total length: 11, Handle length: 5, Blade length: 5 1/2, Blade width: 3/40 Total length: 28.5, Handle length: 13, Blade length: 14, Blade width: 20
WT042/F021 Billhook (Kent pattern?) Cutting and laying hedges, faggoting, splitting poles Total length: 16 3/8, Handle length: 5 3/4  
WT043/W028 Gouge   Total length: 19 1/8, Blade and socket length: 14 1/8, Blade width: 1 1/2  
WT044 Twist auger Used for boring long deep holes Total length: 12 1/4, Spiral length: 5 7/8, Spiral width: 3/4 Total length: 31, Spiral length: 15, Spiral width: 2  
WT045/G018 Soldering iron Heat up in a fire and run the hot copper end with solder onto joint to make the solder run. Use with flame Total length: 16, Handle length: 6 3/4, Ferrule length: 3, Ferrule diameter: 1, Shaft length: 4  
WT050/S021 Compasses To find the correct radius for the cask head. Done by stepping off round the croze groove until points meet after six steps. Leg length: 12 3/16  
WT051/S025 Blade (part of WT104) A blade from an inside shave, a cooper’s tool used for shaping the inside of cask staves Total length: 6 3/8, Thickness: 1/8  
WT053/G028 Leather bodkin Push through leather Total length: 7 1/4, Blade length: 3 1/2  
WT054 Bit (extending)   Total length: 9 Total length: 23
WT056/G023 Draw knife Often used in conjunction with a shave horse to shape wood from rough to square or square to round. Total length: 17 , Blade length: 9 5/8, Handle length: 5  
WT057/G022 Deep mortice chisel Used in woodworking to make mortices and similar joints. Mortice chisels have an extra strong blade in order to resist bending when levering out the waste in the mortice. Head length: 17  
WT058/S033 Flagging iron (English pattern, not Scottish) Used by coopers in the process of flagging – in order to prevent leakage, dry rushes (flags) are inserted into the croze groove and between the separate parts of the head; and after repairs between the staves at their chime ends. The flagging iron is used mainly when making repairs. Total length: 23 , Total width: 5  
WT059/F045 Billhook   Total length: 14, Blade length: 9 1/2  
WT060/S010 Small Axe (head only)        
WT061/A018 Billhook (Yorkshire pattern)   Head length: 14  
WT062/S035 Hammer adze   Head length: 9 1/2, Head width: 2 3/8, Handle length: 10  
WT063/S019 Cooper’s hollowing knife Pulled towards user to shave wood down Total length: 14 1/2, Total width: 4 3/4, Blade width: 1 1/4  
WT065 Hacking knife Removing broken glass and putty from a frame prior to re-glazing. Back of blade hammered to remove broken glass. Total length: 9 3/16, Blade length: 5  
WT066/W029 Drawknife As any drawknife, but it is a lovely tool for fine work Total length: 8 1/4, Blade length: 5, Blade width: 1/2, Handle length: 2 1/4, Handle diameter: 3/4  
WT067/S007 Hammer (short-handelled)        
WT068/W035 Side axe As per a side axe – used for splitting wood as if a wedge Total length: 6 1/2 Total length: 16.5
WT069/W024 Drawknife Coopering, staves, chamfering , Total width: 2 3/8 Total length: 34, Total width: 6.3
WT072/A003 Bill hook Backward pointing hook can be used for gathering next piece of wood. Handle may have been shortened, making the tool a slasher Total length: 22, Handle length: 12, Blade and socket length: 17 1/2  
WT074 Carpet knife Cutting carpet Handle length: 4 1/2, Handle thickness: 1/2, Blade length: 3 Handle length: 11.5
WT076/W005 Auger, bull-nose pattern See WT119 Total length: 24 3/4, Length of spiral: 6 1/2, Spiral width: 1/2  
WT077 Spiral auger Boring tool Total length: 31, Spiral length: 9 1/2, Spiral width: 2 1/4, Socket inside diameter: 1 5/80 Total length: 78.8, Spiral length: 24.2, Spiral width: 5.7, Socket inside diameter: 4.20  
WT078/W018 Twist auger   Total length: 23 3/4, Spiral width: 1 Total length: 60.5, Spiral width: 2.5
WT079/S012 Cooper’s side axe Right handed use, to shave the barrel staves (we think handle is reversed for left handed people) Handle length: 14 3/4, Handle diameter (oval): 2 1/4 x 1 1/4, Blade length: 10 3/4, Blade width: 5 1/40  
WT080/S006 Scotch pattern auger For wider holds in wood that don’t wander. Much smaller than usual auger Total length: 10, Spiral width:1, Socket inside diameter: 1  
WT081/S029 Cooper’s downright shave Finishing outside of cask Total length: 11 3/4, Steel plate: 4 3/4 x 2 1/2 Total length: 30, Steel plate: 12 x 6.4
WT082/W013 Auger blade Boring holes (needs handle – ‘eyed’) Total length: 29 1/4, Spiral length: 9, Handle length: 3 1/2 Total length: 74, Spiral length: 22.5, Handle length: 9
WT083/W032 Brace With bits for drilling Total length: 10, Total height: 6 1/8 Total length: 25.5
WT084/W003 Auger For drilling holes for dowelling, pegging Total length: 24, Spiral width: 7/8 Total length: 62
WT085/S003 Barrel Auger and Bung        
WT086/S040 Chive Walter thinks it was used to plane the inside of the top of the barrel ready to accept the lid of the barrel Total length: 16, Stock width: 4 1/4, Blade width: 2 1/4  
WT087/S027 Heading swift As a spoke shave on wooden barrels Total length: 13, Width: 4 1/4, Height: 2  
WT089/F041 Hand axe (Kent)   Handle length: 16, Blade length: 6, Blade width: 3 1/2 Handle length: 41, Blade length: 15, Blade width: 9
WT090/W008 Twist auger     Total length: 52.5, Spiral length: 14.5, Socket diameter: 2
WT091/S041 Chive It is used to trim the stave tops to accept the head. It is essentially a plane with a radiussed plane knife Total length: 14, Blade width: 1 3/4, Blade length: 7  
WT092/S015 Barrel auger Hand drill to drill a tapered hole for the bung Total length: 11 1/2, Handle diameter: 1 1/2, Shank length: 2 3/4, Taper length: 7 1/40  
WT094/S022 Cooper’s driver (English Pattern) / Hoop driver Believed to be used to knock hazel barrel hoops on wooden barrels. Hit with a hammer and steel top ring holds wood together to prevent wood top from splitting. Total length: 5, Handle length: 2 1/4, Head length: 2 3/4  
WT095/A033 Handle sickle/scythe     Blade length: 30, Linking rod length: 17, Ferrule: 1, Handle length: 130
WT096/G014 Hammer General whacking   Total length: 35, Handle length: 25.5, Head length: 9.5, Head width: 140
WT097/S028 Cooper’s buzz Finishing outside of cask Total length: 13, Total width: 3 3/8 Total length: 33, Total width: 8.5
WT098/S014 Curved side axe Maybe for shaping staves Handle length: 12, Blade length: 6 1/4 Handle length: 30, Blade length: 15
WT099/G015 Large reel (not a tool!) Used in the cotton industry to wind cotton onto Total length: 11 1/2, Reel end diameter: 5, Reel end thickness: 3/4, Centre diameter: 20  
WT100/W019 Spiral auger Drilling holes Total length: 27, Handle length: 14 Total length: 69, Handle length: 36, Spiral length: 23
WT102/W002 Wood auger By hand to drill holes for fence posts etc. Total length: 28, Spiral length 8, Spiral width: 1, Screw tip length: 5/80  
WT108/W017 Twist auger Used with wooden handle inserted in eye for wide deep holes without wandering Shank length: 17 3/4, Socket diameter: 1 1/8  
WT104/S024 Inside shave (goes with WT051) Used for shaping the inside of barrel staves. Width: 8 1/4, Length: 4, Depth (max): 1 3/4, Mouth: 1 1/2 x 5/80  
WT105/W001 Twist auger For boring deep larger sized holes without wandering Total length: 23 1/2, Spiral length: 8 1/2, Spiral width: 7/8  
WT106/W004 Spiral Auger For boring holes   Total length: 59.5, Spiral length: 18
WT107/S036 Topping plane (right hand) To finish the chiming (bevelled top edge of stave) use a topping plane to square off the ends of the staves before levelling the inside surface with a chive. Total length: 15 1/2, Block width: 2 3/4, Blade width: 2, Blade length: 6 3/40  
WT108/W017 Scotch Auger Used with wooden handle inserted in eye for wide deep holes without wandering Total length: 24 7/8, Spiral length: 6 3/4, Spiral width: 1  
WT109/W006 Twist auger, scotch pattern See WT119 Total length: 24 3/8, Spiral length: 7, Spiral width: 3/4  
WT110/S031 Buzz shave Used to smooth the outside of a cask.    
WT111/S013 Cooper’s adze Ued for forcing dried rushes into the croze groove Handle length: 4, Blade length: 7 1/2 Handle length: 10
WT112/W007 Twist auger See WT119 Boring deep wide holes without wandering Total length: 24, Spiral length: 6 1/2, Spiral width: 5/8, Handle length: 8 3/4, Handle width 7/8 to 3/4  
WT113/W009 Twist auger – Scotch pattern See WT119 Boring deep wide holes without wandering Total length: 25 3/8, Spiral length: 9, Spiral width: 5/8  
WT114/S038 Croze plane Spun round top of cask to make groove (croze) for the cask head. Total length: 18 1/2, Total width: 6 1/2  
WT115/S030 Smoothing plane Shaving over wood to smooth it Total length: 22, Total width: 3, Total height: 3, Cutting blade length: 4 5/8, Cutting blade width: 2 1/4 Total length: 56, Total width: 8, Total height: 8, Cutting blade length: 12, Cutting blade width: 6
WT116/W016 Auger Gedge pattern (twist bit) Boring deep accurate holes of larger diameter Total length: 20 1/2, Spiral length: 8, Spiral width: 1 1/8  
WT117/W023 Chisel As a chisel! Handle length: 2 5/8, Ferrule length: 5/8, Blade length: 2 1/2 Handle length: 6.7, Ferrule length: 1.1, Blade length: 6.4
WT118/S037 Croze plane (hawksbill teeth and guard) Spun round top of cask to make groove (croze) for the cask head. Total length: 18 1/2, Total width: 6 1/2  
WT119/W020 Auger bit – Gedge pattern Boring wide deep holes without wandering, especially in end grain or at an angle to wood as no spurs to foul before lead engaged Total length: 20 1/2, Spiral length: 8, Spiral width: 1 1/4  
WT120/W015 Auger, spiral Used for boring long deep holes Total length: 24  
WT121/S026 Heading swift For use as a spokeshave on barrels Total length: 14 1/2, Total width: 5  
WT122/F009 Hand axe Conventionally used in forestry, but probably for small work Handle length (below head): 11 1/2, Head length: 5, Blade length: 3  
WT123/S034 Rounding adze – Scotch pattern For jointing and fixing wooden hoops. For beating truss hoops over caks. Cutting the chime at the barrel rim. Handle length: 10 5/8, Head length: 9, Cutting face width: 2 1/2  
WT124/G021 Upholsters webbing tensioning pliers Webbing was held in the pliers then levered over an edge Total length: 8 1/4, Total width: 2 5/8  
WT125 Plough gauge Used for cutting leather strips for bridles etc. Handle length 3 1/2  
WT126/S017 Coopers jigger Cutting chiv and chime Handle length: 4 3/8, Blade length: 14, Diameter: 1 3/8  
WT127/W033 Wooden mallet Hammering , Handle length: 5 1/2, Head length: 6 Total length: 29, Handle length: 14, Head length: 15
WT128/W014 Auger blade (possibly Scotch pattern with barrel eye, Salaman, p.32) Boring holes (according to Walter it was used for boring chair holes Total length: 28 1/8, Spiral length: 10, Socket diameter: 1 3/4 Total length: 71.5, Spiral length: 25.5, Socket diameter: 4
WT129/S023 Hoop driver Either on steel or hazel hoops to knock them into position Total length: 6 Total length: 15
WT130/S018 Hollowing drawknife Shaping staves Blade length: 6 1/2, Handle length: 5 1/8 Blade length: 16, Handle length: 13
WT131/A039 Hay fork – short handle 3 types: 1) short handle to turn hay after mowing in the field; 2) medium handle to lift hay onto the hay cart; 3) long handle to lift hay into high hay loft Handle + socket length: 58, Head length: 8 1/2  
WT132/S011 Rounding Box        
WT133 Wooden spade Used for wet clay – slides off easily Handle length: 35, Blade length: 12, Metal length: 5, Metal width: 7 1/20 Handle length: 89, Blade length: 30, Metal length: 13, Metal width: 190  
WT134/G027 Tent peg To fix guy rope Length: 12, Width: 2 5/8 Length: 30.5, Width: 6.7
WT136/A041 Pitchfork Medium length fork Total length: 82, Head length: 19, Head width: 8 Total length: 208, Head length: 48, Head width: 20  
WT137 Spade Digging post holes? Total length: 38, Head length: 16, Head tip width: 3 Total length: 96, Head length: 40  
WT140/A040 Pitchfork Long fork for lifting hay onto top of stacks Total length: 95, Head length: 14 Total length: 241, Head length: 35
WT141 Hay rake     Total length: 159, Head width: 73  
WT142/A036 Slasher Cutting/clearing brambles etc. Handle length: 35, Blade + socket length: 13 1/2 Handle length: 89, Blade + socket length: 35
WT143 Spade Digging post holes Head length: 15 1/2, Socket length: 14 Head length: 39, Socket length: 37  
WT147/S020 Compasses Used for stepping off divisions/dividing; used to measure the heads of the cask to ensure a proper fit – the radius of the cask top was taken and measure six times round to obtain the size of the head Leg length: 12  
WT150/W012 Auger (Scotch pattern with barrel eye) For boring deep clean-sided holes in wood Total length: 9 7/8, Screw width: 1, Eye diameter: 15/16  
WT151/F002 Felling axe Long handle allows both hands to be used. Has heavier head than most axes. Obviously once used for felling trees, but now more often used for rounding and laying in (making a wedge to start a saw cut) Total length: 36, Blade length: 8  
WT154/G002 Machete To cut undergrowth Total length: 18, Handle length: 5 1/4, Blade length: 12 3/4, Blade width: 20  
WT155 Hay rake   Handle length: 68, Head width: 30, Tine length: 4 Handle length: 173, Head width: 76, Tine length: 10  
WT156/F001 Axe Used for cutting a mortise through the bottom of a tree with large basal roots. When the mortise is cut, a saw is inserted and when to fell the basal roots are cut. Handle length (inc eye): 34 1/2, Handle width (max): 4  
WT159/A038 Hay knife   Blade length: 22 5/8, Blade width: 6 1/2, Total head length: 27 1/2, Handle length: 6 + 22 1/20  
WT160/A010 Billhook   Total length: 15, Blade length: 8 1/2  
WT161/A034 Sickle Sweeping motion to cut grass Blade length/cutting face: 16  
WT163 Bill hook Slashing to cut bottom of tree Total length: 16, Handle length: 5 1/2, Ferrule length: 1 , Blade length: 10 1/20 Total length: 41, Handle length: 14, Ferrule length: 3, Blade length: 270  
WT170/FLOOR Stock knife and pin Cutting timber. Total length: 36    
WT172/F022 Bill hook   Handle length: 5, Blade length: 10  
WT174/A042 Slasher (English/heavy) Used to clear hedge bottom of rough vegetation such as brambles before hedgelaying   Handle length: 86, Blade + socket length: 42
WT183/F010 Billhook (Shropshire Woodman’s pattern)   Blade length: 10  
WT184/F024 Bill hook     Total length: 40, Handle + ferrule length: 14.5, Blade length: 25.5
WT190/F012 Billhook (Walter thinks it’s a Shropshire pattern) Cutting and laying hedges, pointing stakes etc. Total length: 15 5/16, Blade length: 10  
WT195/A023 Billhook   Total length: 16, Blade length: 10  
WT196 Cleaver Splitting timber Total length: 13 3/16, Blade: 7 5/8    
WT198/F026 Billhook (Dorset, Epsom or West of England type) For thin branches slashed with upward stroke (perferrably 1 or 2 strokes – 3 loses money). Typically used on hazel, and also birch. Start from inside woods out towards the ride, then work back in from ride trimming branches. As you trip, sort into piles by wood and diameter type (what it was going to be sold as, eg hazel for walking sticks, hazel for hedge stakes and net posts, birch for besom brooms) Total length: 15 3/8, Blade length: 9 3/4 Total length: 39, Blade length: 25
WT199/F019 Billhook (Newtown pattern) Cutting and laying hedges, pointing stakes etc. Total length: 15 1/4, Blade length: 9  
WT200/F014 Billhook (Newtown pattern?) Pointing stakes, cutting and laying hedges etc. Total length: 14 5/8, Blade length: 9  
WT201/A043 Bill hook cCutting and hooking Handle length 12, Blade14 30, 36
WT202/A006 Bill hook   Handle length: 6, Blade length: 10 Handle length: 25, Blade length: 15
WT203/A026 Billhook   Total length: 16, Blade length: 10  
WT204 – NOT FOR COLLECTION Bill hook Slashing bottom of trees Handle length: 3, Ferrule length: 1, Blade length: 9, Blade width: 2 1/20 Handle length: 7.5, Ferrule length: 2.5, Blade length: 23, Blade width: 6.50  
WT205/A015 Turnip topper End driven into turnip to pick it up then turnip top cut off – top thrown one way, turnip thrown other Total length: 13 1/2, Handle length: 5 1/4  
WT206/A031 Vegetable scythe Small scythe to cut turnips etc where they come out of the earth Handle + ferrule length: 5 3/4, Blade length: 9 3/4, Blade width: 1 1/4  
WT207/F015 Billhook   Blade length: 10, Blade width (max): 4 1/2, Handle length: 5  
WT208/G001 Cleaver   Total length: 13 1/2, Blade length: 7  
WT209/G011 Cleaver   Total length: 13, Blade length: 6 1/2  
WT211/G009 Billhook/cleaver   Total length: 14, Blade length: 9  
WT212/A004 Bill hook   Handle length: 6, Blade length: 10 1/4 , Blade length: 26
WT213/F006 Bark peeler Peeling bark from felled trees. Often used in conjunction with a shaving (peeling or rinding) brake Total length: 13 1/2, Blade length: 8  
WT214/F034 Bill hook (Dorset, Epsom or West of England shape) As a short handled axe Handle length: 4 3/4, Blade length: 10 Handle length: 12, Blade length: 25
WT215 – NOT FOR COLLECTION Side axe To trim (for example) a chair leg. A side axe allows just a sliver to be shaved off Handle length: 15, Blade length: 6 1/2, Blade width: 4 3/4  
WT216/F036 Bill hook (Suffolk or West of England pattern)   Handle length: 6, Blade length: 7 Handle length: 15, Blade length: 18
WT218/G013 Cleaver   Total length: 12 1/2, Blade length: 6 1/2  
WT219/F032 Bill hook Looks to have been a tool used for trimming turnips but has had an extra piece fire-welded onto the back , Blade length: 10 Handle length: 12, Blade length: 26
WT220/G004 Bill hook   Blade length: 8 1/2 Blade length: 22
WT221/A021 Billhook (Yorkshire pattern)   Total length: 15 1/4, Blade length: 8  
WT224/F028 Bill hook   , Blade length: 10 1/2 Handle length: 12, Blade length: 27
WT225/A027 Billhook? Turnip knife? If a turnip knfe, the spike is used to lift the turnip and the blade used to remove the tops Total length: 15 1/2, Blade: 10  
WT226/F029 Bill hook Cutting/laying hedges, splitting laths etc. Handle + ferrule length: 5 1/2, Blade length: 10 1/2  
WT227/A012 Light slasher Thought to have had long handle originally used to slash hedges/undergrowth Total length: 18 3/4, Blade length: 12  
WT230/F023 Billhook (spar hook – similar to Kent pattern) For cutting hurdles and thatching spars Total length: 13 1/8, Blade length: 8  
WT231/A029 Billhook   Total length: 16, Blade length: 10  
WT232/F033 Bill hook (left-handed) Cutting spars for thatch Handle + ferrule length: 5 9/16, Handle width: 1 1/8, Blade length: 7, Blade width (max): 3 7/80 Handle + ferrule length: 14.2, Handle width: 2.9, Blade length: 17.9, Blade width (max): 980
WT233/A014 Slasher   Total length: 24, Blade + socket length: 15, Blade length: 8  
WT236/F020 Billhook The notch possibly used to push stems forward or catch them Blade length: 10, Blade width (max): 5 1/2  
WT237/G007 Cleaver   Total length: 14, Blade length: 8 Total length: 35.5, Blade length: 20
WT238/F030 Bill hook Cutting/laying hedges, splitting laths etc. Handle length: 5 1/2, Blade length 9 1/2  
WT240/F044 Bill hook (Isle of Wight pattern) Harvesting and splitting wood Handle + ferrule length: 5 3/4, Blade length: 12 Handle + ferrule length: 14.5, Blade length: 30.3
WT241/A024 Billhook   Total length: 14, Blade length: 9  
WT242/A019 Bill hook Turnip harvesting/splitting/cutting; Woodland crafts Handle + ferrule length: 5 5/8, Blade length: 8 5/8, Blade width (max): 4 1/2 Handle + ferrule length: 14.3, Blade length: 21.6, Blade width (max): 11.4
WT243/A007 Bill hook Cutting/laying hedges, splitting laths etc. Handle + ferrule length: 6 3/8, Blade length: 10  
WT246/F013 Billhook (Newtown pattern) For pointing stakes, cutting and laying hedges etc. Total length: 15 1/4, Blade length: 9 3/4  
WT248/G008 Cleaver   Total length: 14, Blade length: 8  
WT249/G005 Cleaver Splitting laths Total length: 16, Blade length: 9 3/8, Blade width 2 7/16  
WT250/F037 Bill hook Used by Railway Co. to clear embankments Total length: 12, Blade length: 7, Blade width (max): 2 1/4 Total length: 30.5
WT251/F025 Bill hook (Newton pattern)   , Blade length: 10 Handle + ferrule length: 15.5, Blade length: 26
WT253/A001 Bill hook (Yorkshire pattern) For larger branches, poles etc. Handle length: 14, Blade length: 8 Handle length: 36, Blade length: 19
WT254/F027 Bill hook     Total length: 39.5
WT255 Pick axe/colliers pick axe Breaking up coal oar Total length: 15 Total length: 38  
WT257/S016 Drawknife Drawing tool towards you to cut/shave off timber (but tried the tool out – it works better to use by pulling awy – the handle angle feels odd) Handle length: 5, Blade length: 4 3/4, Blade width: 1 1/2, Ferrule length: 1/20 Handle length: 13, Blade length: 12, Blade width: 4, Ferrule length: 1.50
WT260/F016 Billhook (Newtown pattern?) Pointing stakes, harvesting thinner material, cutting and laying hedges etc. Total length: 14 5/8, Blade length: 8 7/8  
WT262/A035 Spade   Total blade length: 25, Blade length: 15, Blade width (top): 6, Blade width (base): 3 1/20  
WT263/G003 Butchers cleaver Heavy blade and some force allows the blade to shear through flesh and bones. Total length: 17 1/2, Handle length: 7, Blade width (max): 3 3/4 Total length: 44.5, Handle length: 18, Blade width (max): 9.5
WT264/W030 Adze (trackman’s spiking?) Presumed to be for laying railway tracking. Also for trimming sleepers and driving wedges Total length: 25, Blade length (inc. poll): 11 1/2, Cutting edge: 4 1/8  
WT267/G012 Cleaver   Total length: 12 1/2, Blade length: 6 1/4, Blade width: 4 1/2  
WT269/A028 Cleaver? Billhook?   Total length: 17, Blade length: 9  
WT270/A013 Slasher Used in the preliminary clearance work of laying a hedge for cutting away rough overgrowth, shrubs and trees not to be used in the hedge, and also in general hedge cutting and tidying. Head length: 14, Blade length: 7  
WT271/F011 Billhook (Walter thinks it’s a Newtown pattern) Cutting and laying hedges, harvesting thinner materials Total length: 13 7/8, Blade length: 9, Blade width (max): 2 5/8  
WT272 Machete (slasher type knife) To cut down small shrubs and branches. We think/guess that the Army would have bought these for general army use in the field as a slasher knife to clear stuff. Martindales are likely to be approved army supplier Handle length: 5, Blade length: 13, Blade width (max): 1 7/8  
WT273/A016 Turnip knife Cutting root veg Handle length: 5, Blade length: 8 Handle length: 13, Blade length: 20
WT276 Drawing knife Cutting/shaving timber by drawing towards user Total length: 19, Tang length: 5, Blade width: 1 Total length: 48, Tang length: 13, Blade width: 2.5  
WT278/A002 Bill hook (Yorkshire pattern?) General hedging and coppicing Handle length: 5 3/4, Blade length: 13 1/4 Handle length: 14.6, Blade length: 33.6
WT279/G006 Cleaver Splitting wood, chopping kindling Total length: 14 1/2, Blade length: 7 1/2  
WT283 Finishing scraper To scrape cowhide – we think this is a finishing tool to finish off the kids. Two-handed scraping action. The left-hand end has a kink proving this tool was only for a right-handed person. Blade length: 14, Blade width: 2 1/4  
WT284 Billhook Slashing bottom of trees Total length: 15, Ferrule length: 1, Blade width: 2 1/2 Total length: 38, Ferrule length: 2.5, Blade width: 6  
WT286/A005 Billhook Cutting/laying hedges Handle length: 6 1/2, Blade length: 9 1/2  
WT287/A008 Billhook (Broom or Nottingham pattern)     Total length: 41, Handle + ferrule length: 15/5, Blade width (max): 14.5
WT288 Billhook For cutting trees , Blade length: 9 Handle + ferrule length: 16.5, Blade length: 23  
WT289/A009 Billhook     Total length: 38, Handle length: 5.5, Handle width: 4, Blade length: 22.50
WT290/G016 Hammer (6lb)   Head length: 7  
WT291/W031 Barking iron Drawn down a log on a trestle to cut the tree bark lengthwise Total length: 15 3/4, Handle length: 6 3/4, Socket length: 6, Head length: 3, Head width: 1 3/4  
WT292/G010 Cleaver Trimming staves. Removing small side shoots. Total length: 13 5/16, Blade length: 7 3/4  
WT293/A025 Billhook   Total length: 13, Blade length: 8 1/2  
WT294/A020 Billhook   Total length: 14, Blade length: 9  
WT295/F039 Small axe General small axework Total length: 12 Total length: 30
WT296/A011 Billhook     Total length: 36, Handle + ferrule length: 16, Blade length: 20, Blade width (max): 100
WT300/G025 Cold chisel A cold chisel is a tool made of tempered steel used for cutting ‘cold’ metals (i.e. not used in conjunction with a forget etc.). Often used to remove waste metal when a very smooth finish is not required, or the work cannot be done easily with other tools Length: 5 1/8, Wdith: 15/16  
WT301/G019 Pry bar   Total length: 14 1/8, Height: 7  
WT302/A022 Billhook   Total length: 15 3/8, Blade length: 10, Handle length: 4 3/4  
WT303/A030 Riving knife/cleaver   Total length: 14 1/2, Blade length: 8, Blade width: 1 1/2  
WT304/W021 Auger, spiral Boring long deep holes Total length: 31, Spiral width: 2 1/2  
WT306/A037 Posting spade Used for digging holes for fence posts Total length: 42, Width (max): 6 5/8, Head length (exc. socket): 16 5/8  
WT307/W011 Auger, spiral Boring long deep holes Total length: 23  

Request Form

The tools can be borrowed for a maximum of 3 months in one lending period, after which time they can be renewed or returned. Tools can be renewed up to 3 times.

There is a £10 deposit for the 1st tool borrowed, with an additional £2 per tool thereafter, up to a maximum of 5 tools. The amount of tools you borrow can be increased if you plan to use the tools to run a course, workday, etc. Deposits will be refunded upon returning the tools.

Borrowers must sign a simple disclaimer form before tools can be loaned.

All tools were refurbished as part of the Walter’s Tools project. You may find that some of the edge tools would benefit from a final sharpen with a sharpening stone before you use them.

Please complete the following form and submit it to request a tool.

    2 thoughts on “Library Catalogue

    1. A film taken in the Coopers’ shop at St James Gate, Dublin in 1954 shows barrels being made for the Guinness brewery. The film has a commentary, rather overwhelmed by music, but he names the tools used in the process & I was interested to see the actual tools in the library. It would be interesting to present a talk with films & the actual tools. But I will need to think about that.

    2. Pingback: Walter’s Tool Library now open | Walter's Tools

    Comments are closed.