The Old Lawnmower Club
Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Calke Abbey National Trust

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chirpy999

Hi Calke Abbey is a proper treat for a visit anytime of the year, Here should be 3 pictures of mowers 

located in the Gardeners Workshop/Office,  anyone able to identify them?

Forums

Clive1997 Wed, 28/05/2025

Spent a day up there a few years back going through all the gardening tools identifying them with their curator.

The first is a Shank  Patent gear drive, quite a rare one 1870's/1880's, missing gear covers, similar to the one we have in museum, image attached. 

I did inspect their archives & there was evidence of several early Greens Silens Messors & some SM grass box brackets hanging on a nail in the shed. The small roller mower in front is from memory a Mk1 JP Minor, probably have a record somewhere for the sidewheel.

The Shanks didn't come with the house, it was donated to NT at a later date.

I seem to remember there,was also a Pony/Horse mower in the stables?

chirpy999 Thu, 29/05/2025

Thanks Clive a very informative reply. Ill look in the stables for the horse mower next time I

visit.  

Dave

Clive1997 Thu, 29/05/2025

Hi Dave

Found my notes & some images, the JP Minor is a 9in from Oct 1938, the Shanks had its original grass box, hope it was still there, the JP box was riddled with woodworm & I did recommend they were treated asap.

Some more images....

chirpy999 Thu, 29/05/2025

Thanks Clive , I visit nearly every week always stop at the gardens a real haven of peacefullness.