PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Friday 21 June 2013

How Big was the Door?

One of the things I love about this place we call home
is that I frequently find
 'buried treasure' in the gardens.


Like this old, broken, key.
It is huge,
very heavy,
and weighs almost a pound.
It was buried deep in the soil.

In another part of the garden
I found this...


...a huge metal door handle.
It is approx 9 x 6 inches
and weighs about two pounds.

They must have been used
for some quite impressive doors.



My very first metal find
was the cog wheel at the
back of this photograph.
It is still my favourite piece.
I haven't a clue what it weighs,
but it is heavy!


These wonderful pieces of more modern metalwork
were also found in the garden.
They are massive and currently live in
the small rockery area.

I am always up for a digging project -
because there is, potentially, 
the chance
of 
finding more buried treasure.


Harry has told me he would like my collection
of scrap metal when I die.
x

25 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. That's exactly what Harry thinks, too!

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  2. As I began reading I was hoping you had a display of your treasures,and you do!
    Is Harry entering the Diplomatic service when he's all done growing up?
    Jane x

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    1. Hello Jane, Harry's also pretty keen on my pottery shards, the old bottles and jars which I dug up, the rusty handmade nails - oh, and my late mother's beautiful rings, my big collection of bead necklaces, bracelets... I'm sure his tastes will change and his diplomatic skills will improve, in time!

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  3. Britain is old. Sigh. And, Harry has a good eye. We did find a rusty old harrow, cleaning up our property. Probably genuine 1920's when the land was a dairy farm that also grew feed. And a rusted out VW. The farm stuff went to the scrap yard, but the VW is still buried in our little woods.

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    1. Hello Joanne, That all sounds like so much fun - Harry would be on the next flight to do the excavations. I have dreams of one day finding something really old - then I wonder whether I would actually recognise it as such, probably not. I enjoy the possibilities and anticipation.

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  4. Great finds perhaps you should invest in one of those metal finder thing-a-ma-jigs that one can wave over the ground they do the hunting for you.

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    1. Hello Doc, My young grandson, Harry, saved up for a small one. He hasn't found anything yet - but he is hoping that when the farmers have done their harvest they will give him permission to use it in the adjoining fields. I may have to 'plant' something.

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  5. Replies
    1. Hello Susan, I am constantly surprised by just how much stuff was buried around here. We had to do a lot of excavations when we renovated the place, sometimes digging down three or four feet - and that is where the most exciting finds were. I can't help wondering what else is down there.

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  6. Was the house previously a foundry? Maybe the former owner was a collector of all things metal.

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    1. Hello Cro, When I researched into the main house, I found it was originally a farm house, then it was bought by a woman who owned a pub in Louth - and it became an 'ale house' mainly for the railway workers. I believe it was a coal merchant's house, many years ago.

      I unearthed some wonderful, very large old stones in the garden. They are obviously from some old church, or perhaps the abbey which was not far from here. Someone was a collector. I have reaped the benefit.

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  7. i love that Harry has it all planned out!

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    1. Hello Dom, Harry is definitely not backwards in coming forward! I like the honesty of children, but I have to hide my smiles.

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  8. What finds! I remember when I helped my grandfather "till" the garden and we'd find treasures, but nothing as glorious as yours. I love that Harry has already staked his claim! XOXO

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    1. Hello Susan, I don't think it really matters what we find - it is the thrill of finding something...I hope the memories will be as strongly fixed in Harry's mind as those you have of helping your grandfather. Wonderful times! x

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  9. Looks like there was an old mill on your site ...

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    1. Hello Susan, Now that would be really exciting - perhaps I should open up another pit and start excavating again. I know a young man who would be eager to help!

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  10. Lovely finds and nice to see them in your garden.

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    1. Hello LBM, They were exciting times. My heart was in my mouth when I watched Spaghetti and the rat trap last night. I'm going to try to persuade my husband to invest in one of those camera's - see what goes on around this place. Perhaps even film the owls in the wood.

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  11. Looks like you've passed along your fondness for buried arifacts. (I'm intriqued by the door handle.) i did manage to find a partial arrowhead, which is now part of my rock collection.

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    1. Hello Janet, I think Harry would trade them all for an arrowhead! So much more exciting. Have you recovered from your wonderful holiday yet?

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    2. Oh Elaine, I miss Wales so much! But, I'm back into the rhythm of my life here. Things are greener than they have been in the last couple of years. I guess when I come back I'll have to bring an arrowhead...

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    3. Hi Janet, I hope you have the opportunity to visit again. I'm sure there is still plenty to explore and absorb...although I have to say you definitely packed a lot in!

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  12. You've found some amazing things in your garden. I do find things buried around our farm, but nothing as exciting yet as what you've got.

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