eHive - Food Museum

Name/TitleSheep dipping cart

About this objectThis cart was used by William Borthwick in the 1920s and 30s at Deepdale Farm and in the district near Brancaster for sheep dipping.

It is a two-wheeled wooden cart with gates at either end and a wooden ramp with seven treads. It also has a wooden tank, painted red on the outside, which would be let down from the cart slightly into the ground. One end of the tank is vertical, the other end has a ramp with six treads.
The sheep were lowered into the tank and after dipping walked up the ramp into the cart to drain off. They were then let out through the rear gates and down the rear ramp. The solution used killed the lice and prevented flies laying eggs in the wool which would eventually develop into maggots.

Medium and MaterialsWood

Inscription and MarksNameplate: William Borthwick Burnham Deepdale

Hub caps read: J & J Bescaby, Makers, Lincoln

MeasurementsCart dimensions -

Metric measurements:
L:444cm
W:182cm
H:205cm
Diameter of wheels: 128cm

Length: 10 feet 6 inches
Width: 4 feet 4 inches
Width of actual body: 4 feet
Width at front: 2 feet 4 inches (for first 2 feet of length)
Forward gates: 2 feet x 2 feet (two)
Rear gates: 3 feet 7 inches high by 1 foot 11 inches wide (two, each with four rails)
Height of body: 2 feet 4 inches, with rail at 11 inches above
Diameter of wheels: 4 feet 3 inches (14 spokes)
Shafts: 4 feet 9 inches (detachable)
Rear ramp: 7 feet 5 inches x 3 feet 2.5 inches

Tank dimensions -
Length: 8 feet 5 inches (ramp rising for last 4 feet)
Width: 3 feet 2 inches
Height: 3 feet

Metric measurements:
L:444cm
W:182cm
H:205cm
Diameter of wheels: 128cm

Object Typesheep-dipping cart

Object numberSTMEA:A.3648