Dear Freinds and Howard
Further to my request for info' on the 'Possession Stowe History'- I can add the below info I have to hand:-
"Possesions' as they were called, were made in a special way with seven pieces of wood. The Sole-tree {or base} was 1 foot 6 in. long, the two upright pieces, called stowe-blades, were 1 ft.high with a nick in their tops to carry the spindle, or turntree, on which the rope was wound in the miner's full-size windlass. They had to be made with wooden nails, iron ones being illegal."
{Page 38, DERBYSHIRE LEAD MINING, by Nellie Kirkham.}.
Howard mentions the above being mounted/fixed to a stake- but so far I can not confirm that- methinks it may have just been placed on the ground!!!
I think that one thing that has struck me is researching the above is how much smaller are the stowes as one goes back over the centuries!.
Take Care.
Roger B Bradford
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