In this article Andy Blackwell, collections research volunteer, takes a closer look at the museum’s giant cradle scythe displayed in the ‘Meat Market’ gallery with other large historic Cornish farming tools up on the arched wall.

A rather vicious-looking implement hanging on the wall in the Meat Market is the Cradle Scythe.
Used for harvesting wheat, barley, oats and other cereal crops by hand, this consists of a large steel blade fixed to a curved wooden handle with grips. What sets it aside from a normal scythe are the attached long metal prongs giving it a fork-like appearance. This was the ‘cradle’ and the purpose of these was to catch and bundle the grain stalks so that they could be laid down quickly and cleanly, making sheaving and threshing easier.

Scythe ergonomics

In the early days of grain cultivation the stalks were either pulled or else cut with a small hand-held sickle. In time, the sickle gave way to the larger scythe with ergonomically shaped handles, which provided a faster, more efficient means of harvesting. However, the cut stalks were piled haphazardly in rows, or ‘windrows’ to use the correct technical term, and these had then to be lined up by hand for sheaving. Development of the cradle scythe enabled the mower to cut and bundle the stalks and lay them in the windrow already aligned, saving significant time and effort. It also meant that less skilled mowers could do the job just as well, which of course meant wages could be lower.

Cradle scythes were used extensively in Britain and Europe for several hundred years – the first documented reference to them is from 1669 when John Worlidge, a prolific writer on agriculture, listed them under “Other various instruments” in his Systema Agriculturae (1).

An old St Keverne friend

The Photographic Collection includes a photograph of one of these being carried by a farmer, believed to be William Lory of Trevalsoe Farm, in about 1900. The photograph is inscribed ‘An Old St Keverne Friend’. For many years the gentleman was believed to be a William Morris, manure collector. But more recently when we posted the image to our Facebook page, Terry Moyle suggested this is more likely William Lory who died in 1929. This enigmatic image is available in the museum shop as a greetings card.

From the 1800s cradle scythes were also widely used in the USA and several patents were created.
Generally the use of cradle scythes declined in the early 20th century with the advent of mechanisation, although it is likely they are still used in some remote and poorer parts of the world, especially where mechanical methods are not practical, including parts of the terrain of the Lizard peninsula.

As an aside, it is interesting that the Grim Reaper, i.e. Death, harvester of souls, and symbolic user of scythes – only ever seems to be depicted in pictures holding the ordinary type. Perhaps that ancient character never felt inclined to embrace progress and move with the times!

(1) John Worlidge, Systema Agriculturae, Chapter XI, Section IV, “Other Various Instruments,” (1668) p. 228.

By Andy Blackwell.