Don’t worry, they’ve been sterilised! Far from the synthetic stitch we know and love today, horsehair was once the star of modern surgeries. To reach the operating table, where they were used as sutures, this horsehair underwent a rigorous process to ensure they were suitable for use. After being precisely collected, measured, and cut, it […]
It’s hard to imagine that we once relied on horses and bullocks to take bulky produce to market, move heavy loads, and travel long distances. Back then, saddlers were essential because they made and repaired harnesses and leatherwork. In the 1870s, John Priest (born c. 1851) was one of the first saddlers to open in […]
Underground coal mines are dangerous workplaces. The pit ponies used to work coal were no less at risk than the miners. The pit pony’s job was to haul the coal wagons, or skips, and equipment in and out of the mine. This old, well-worn and hardened leather strap had a crucial role to play when […]
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We pay respect to them as First Nations people with a continuing connection to land, place, waters and community
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