4.+General+Collection

=__**4. General Collection**__= 
 * __4.1 Spinning Wheel__**
 * __4.2 Rothwell Created Ware__**
 * __4.3 Sewing Machine__**
 * __4.4 Cast Iron Kitchen Scales__**
 * __4.5 Hatpins__**
 * __4.6 Large Picture__**
 * __4.7 Skittle Table__**
 * __4.8 Mangle__**
 * __4.9 Tin Bath__**
 * __4.10 Market Pictures__**
 * __4.1 Spinning Wheel__**

This Spinning wheel is situated in the front window of the heritage centre. It is situated next to some pieces of knitting and sewing which was mostly done at home. The spinning wheel arrived in Europe via the Middle East and replaced the slow process of hand spinning. The spinning wheel existed through a lot of British history, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century; therefore we feel it to be an artefact with great depth of history.


 * __4.2 Rothwell Created Ware__**

In the middle of the entrance room of the Heritage centre, there is a glass display unit containing whole collections of items pertaining from previous and early 20th century. These collection pieces have been donated by people in the town and represent life as it was in Rothwell in the last 100 years.


 * __4.3 Sewing Machine__**



This particular sewing machine is known as a treadle sewing machine, clothes making was far more popular back in the day, than it is now. The treadle sewing machine was seen as a major breakthrough for clothes making with the foot treadle rather than a hand crank, increasing productivity.


 * __4.4 Cast Iron Kitchen Scales__**

Dating back to the Victorian period, there were two types of Cast Iron Scales: Balanced scales and Mechanical scales, they were generally found only in the homes of the wealthy until the 1900's, when their use and availability spread.


 * __4.5 Hatpins__**

Hatpins ranged in size from 6 to 12 inches, depending on the style of hat they were intended for. Gold and silver comprised their make-up with rubies, topaz, sapphire, emeralds or diamonds served as embellishments. Alternatively, they were plain and practical. Hatpin’s peaked in popularity in the decades towards the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. In the 1920’s the popular hairstyles and fashionable hats were smaller, rendering the pins redundant.


 * __4.6 Large Picture__**

In the entrance room of the Heritage centre, there is a large picture on the back wall. This is a school photograph dating to 1957. The signatures on the photograph certainly make an interesting sight. Visitors to the heritage centre have also inscribed their details on it and the picture represents the Living history of the town of Rothwell.


 * __4.7 Skittle Table__**

Skittles is an old European game, originated from a variety of bowling. Modern ten pin bowling has descended from this. The exact rules of the game vary on a regional basis. Skittles was hugely popular in Northamptonshire and many pubs still have skittle tables. The game survives to this day but it is not as popular as it once was. This specific game of skittles consists of 9 skittles which is known as hood skittles.


 * __4.8 Mangle__**

The mangle was before the time of the automatic washing machine. It was powered by a hand crank which was used to wring water from wet laundry. It is more commonly known as a wringer in the US.


 * __4.9 Tin Bath__**

This item was usually positioned in the house in front of the fire. They did not have the luxury of an en-suite! The tin bath was used for the entire family to bathe in and was also used on wash days for starch and to rinse laundry.


 * __4.10 Market Pictures__**

There are numerous paintings of this market house on display in the heritage centre. It is a popular subject for many artists and has been painted in many genres. It deserves a place in the collection as it credits a historical importance to the town.

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