Scythe - St John the Baptist church - Boyleston, Derbyshire - Old Agricultural Equipment on Waymarking.com

An unusual object to find here. An old farm implement?, or belonging to someone who 'SPEAKS IN CAPITALS'

"A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or reaping crops. It has largely been replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery, but is still used in some areas of Europe and Asia.

The word "scythe" derives from Old English siðe. In Middle English and after it was usually spelt sithe or sythe. However, in the 15th century some writers began to use the sc- spelling as they thought (wrongly) the word was related to the Latin scindere (meaning "to cut"). Nevertheless, the sithe spelling lingered and notably appears in Noah Webster's dictionaries.

A scythe consists of a shaft about 170 centimetres (67 in) long called a snaith, snath, snathe or sned, traditionally made of wood but now sometimes metal. Simple snaiths are straight with offset handles, others have an "S" curve or are steam bent in three dimensions to place the handles in an ergonomic configuration but close to shaft. The snaith has either one or two short handles at right angles to it, usually one near the upper end and always another roughly in the middle. The handles are usually adjustable to suit the user. A curved, steel blade between 60 to 90 centimetres (24 to 35 in)) long is mounted at the lower end at 90°, or less, to the snaith. Scythes almost always have the blade projecting from the left side of the snaith when in use, with the edge towards the mower; left-handed scythes are made but cannot be used together with right-handed scythes as the left-handed mower would be mowing in the opposite direction and could not mow in a team."

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"The church at Boylestone, called St John the Baptist, is famous for the bloodless battle of Boylestone. One evening in august 1644, at the time of the civil war, royalist troops spent the night in the church on their way to the relief of Wingfield Manor. In the morning they found themselves surrounded by Cromwells men. They surrendered and were disarmed as they filed out of the church. They were marched off to captivity in Derby.

The church is mainly 14th century, though the tower with its low attached bell turret and conical sided peeked roof was built in 1846, by Henry Duesbury, best known as the architect of the present Derby Guildhall in 1842, after the bad fire the previous year.

The priests doorway through which the Royalist troops emerged is still there."

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Use or Purpose of Equipment: Scythe Approximate age: Not known Still in Use?: Don't know Location: Above entrance inside St John the Baptist church, Boyleston Fee for Access: yes Manufacturer and model: Not listed

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