Wooden Rotherham Plough and Fragments

Wooden Rotherham plough from the Outer Hebrides. Made from metal and wood, this specific plough also features some 19th century modifications.

A patent for what became known as the Rotherham plough was taken out in 1730 by Disney Stanyforth and Joseph Foljambe. However, there have been some who contested whether the design was simply imported from the Netherlands. Notable features of the Rotherham plough include its use of iron plating and its curved mouldboard, which improved turning of the soil. The Rotherham plough’s design made it light, fast and robust. Compared with other ploughs of its time, it was also easier to use as it could be comfortably pulled by two horses and only needed one man to drive the horses and handle the plough.

The Rotherham plough was popular in the 18th century, and a modified version was even imported to North America by George Washington for use on his plantation, Mount Vernon, in Virginia.

While it is unclear when exactly this specific plough was in use, it features some 19th century modifications, suggesting it was in use beyond 1800. These modifications include a detachable share, patented in 1808 and a steel slade, a long metal plate attached to the bottom of the plough, first introduced in 1800.