Traditional Trug Basket
Years and years ago, even before Joe became grumpy, the Anglo Saxons used ‘Trogs’ to measure all sorts of stuff, including liquid. They were really, really chunky, sort of a squashed boat shape, and hewn from solid timber.
Well, they died out centuries ago, or perhaps all the people that used them did – can you imagine how much they weighed !
Think she has just put her Trog down !
I’m told the last recording of Trogs was back in the 17th Century when a Sussex milking parlour was recorded as having “ a dozen” – hefty lasses them milkmaids !
It was in still in Sussex though that a new style of ‘Trug’ Basket was developed, this was back in the early 19th Century by a chap called Tom Smith.
He sacrificed carrying liquids for the sake of lightness, and the ‘modern’ trug of slats nailed to a frame and handle that has been steamed, and then shaped by hand, was born.
Our trug baskets are carefully hand made in the traditional way by trugmakers in Thomas Smith's orginal home town of Herstmonceux.
They have up dated a little bit though, now their trugs are made from Birch ( FSC approved of course.)
Willow, the traditional ‘basket’ wood, is great but does need a bit of looking after.
Birch on the other hand you can leave around outside for ages, it will come to no harm.
They started with Birch 40 years ago, so I think we can call them ‘traditional’ now !
Do you know, never knew I needed a Trug – ‘til I had one !
Mine’s a number 6, but I do make sure not to fill it up too much.
You do not really need to varnish or protect your trug, it’s not just me being lazy.
It seems to keep very clean anyway ( perhaps it wouldn’t if more Damsons made it to the Trug ! )
It’s normally full of secateurs, twine, and all sorts of other gardening stuff that I used to spend ages looking for ( and Joe still does.)
However, someone told me that if you really want to protect it further, use ordinary Sunflower oil.
I do know, though, that loads of people like to use them inside the house.
Filled with soaps in the bathroom, logs in the lounge, eggs in the kitchen, there are lots and lots of uses.
(The bedrooms got me a bit stumped though, but please, no suggestions !)
If you are going to use your Trug indoors, it can look really lovely with a coat or so of clear varnish.
Our local restaurant keeps a varnished one in the ladies loo for little hand towels.
( Before you ask- no, I don’t know about the ‘Gents’ !)
Mind you, not all the Damsons made it to the Trug !
We really are so very proud to sell these hand made in Herstmonceux Trugs, they are such wonderful examples of rural craftmanship.
Not only are they so versatile, they make really lovely, useful presents.
( For extra special people, you could even fill them up with loads of goodies, just think of the lovely banquet you would be able to get into a Number 7.
Here is a Size 7, which is 4 Gallon, Size 6 which is 3 Gallon and Size 5 which is – Oh, you guess !
This is the Number 5, 18” long by 10” wide, it holds quite a bit.
£84.50
For some peculiar reason sometimes PayPal ask you to 'Open an Account' if you want to pay by card, just click on this button and the card payment page will appear !
Sorry though, we do have to pay the couriers to get them to you the next day ( unless it’s a weekend – then they charge mega bucks !)
So we ask you for a contribution towards costs of £8.95 per order, but you can order as many Trugs as you like for the same amount.
As always, if you are buying anything as a gift, just let me know if you would like me to drop a note in with the parcel.