Farm Waggons' Definitions

(Wagon or Waggon)

Farm waggons were generally divided into "box" waggons, compact with high sides, or "bow" waggons with lower sides, longer bodies and raves above the rear wheels to protect them from any overhang. Each county produced its own arch-typical waggon made by local wheelwrights. Box waggons were favoured in the eastern counties, Yorkshire and the east Midlands while Bow wagons were found in the Cotswolds, the south Midlands and the south-west. Few waggons, however, were found in Scotland, west Wales, the Lake District ir the Penines where the two-wheeled cart was favoured. Waggons were drawn usually by ox or horse teams because of their weight.

Until the second half of the nineteenth century waggons had a very restricted turning circle.

This was solved with the introduction of the factory-made "barge" or "boat" waggon which possessed wheels that could turn full lock beneath the body.

Variations of the basic waggon were found in other trades, notably milling and in the Kentish and Worcestershire hop fields where the vehicle was known as a "Hop Tug".

Dorset waggon                                   Hop tug                         Lincolnshire waggon

Hermaphrodite cart                         Hermaphrodite with front axle                       Barge waggon

Boat waggon                               Essex waggon                         East Anglian waggon

Gloucester Half-bow waggon         Yorkshire Wolds waggon                    Full bow waggon

TERMS

Awning. see Tilt.

Bummer. A truck with two low wheels and a long pole for hauling logs.

Hames (Seals, Siles or Hains). A pair of projecting "horns" on a horse collar through which the reins pass.

Gormers. See Ladders.

Janker (or Jangker). A long pole on two wheels for transporting logs.

Ladders. (Gormers, Thrippers, Shelvings, Lades or Copse) Wooden extensions fitted to farm carts at harvest time to increase their load capacity.

Lades. See ladders.

Sett.

     a. A term applied when more than one wagon or truck is required to transport a long log. The second truck is called a Bolster or Runner.

     b. A "Sett" of timber is a load of timber conveyed by such a double conveyance.

Shelvings. See ladders.

Thrippers. See ladders.

Tilt (or awning). The canvas covering of a cart or wagon.

Timber bob. (also Gill). A two-wheeled frame under which logs were hung for hauling.

Whim. A four-wheeled timber bob (q.v.)

Yokes. Hames (q.v.) made of wood.

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