Wednesday 6 January 2021

Trug making (1963)


I just came across this short little film. As a Surrey/Sussex lad, I was brought up with the humble 'Trug'. They were a part of my everyday life.

Traditionally made in Herstmonceux, near Hailsham, the Trug was no less useful than a fork or spade in the garden. They were in constant use.

My current French Trug is now made of green plastic (I have several), and although just as practical as its Sussex equivalent, it hardly gives the same satisfaction. 

38 comments:

  1. Yes - they are still available in 'trendy' shops and viewed I think more as a work of art than as the useful thing they were made for. I wonder if they are still made in the original place.

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  2. I use mine all year. At the moment for picking vegetables and in winter it holds paper for lighting the fire.

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  3. This is something I do not know. It's interesting that there are such simple things that are used in everyday life that they are in one place and in another country have not heard of it at all. It is strange due to the fact that everywhere people collect things.

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    1. I'm sure your country has something equally good for gathering fruit or vegs. Trugs are simply the baskets I was brought-up with.

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  4. Mine too is green plastic and a very important part of my gardening kit. Most of the traditional ones that I can recall were used for collecting produce from the garden/allotment.

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    1. Yes, they were gardener's baskets. Every garden had one; or more.

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  5. I have a hand-made Sussex trug, given to me as a Christmas present, and used too. It's a very pleasing thing!

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    1. Good. Look after it; they're very expensive to replace these days!

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    2. I know! I've had mine since Christmas c1995, and they weren't cheap then either.

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  6. If you don't have the family one who does. I am sure it was built to last

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    1. I thought you'd taken it to NZ with you!

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    2. I haven't seen it since 1965 when I first came out here
      Mine was made in the South Island

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  7. I have 2 a plastic one I use in the garden and a beautiful wooden one, which this year for the 1st time I filled with winter greenery and had as my table decoration.

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    1. It seems that's what many people use them for these days; more decorative than practical.

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  8. So that's what they are: an egg basket.

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    1. These days they're used for almost anything; including eggs!

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  9. That was really nice to watch. Making something by hand is still a beautiful thing to see and own.

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    1. There's not a lot that is specific to my native area. Trugs are probably the best known.

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  10. A thing of beauty and functional.

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  11. What a lovely, gentle scene. Made me recall how much I enjoy Pathé News reels, thank you.

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    1. Somewhat 'set-up', but beautiful. I'm sure they normally worked indoors.

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  12. Grandmother used to have a real one, I used it when helping her garden.
    The plastic ones are ok, but not a patch on the proper wooden ones..they don't have the same balance

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    1. I quite like my plastic ones, but I know what I'd prefer.

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  13. Beautiful things. Brilliant craftsmanship. As the vicar said to the actress, "You can't beat a nice trug!"

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  14. Still making them prices start around £50 and go up to around £150.

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  15. Still available.
    We went down recently & bought our daughter one as a Christmas present.
    We have one that is over 40 years old & although battered is still serviceable.



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    1. They last very well. Chestnut is a reliable wood.

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  16. I don't think we had an equivalent beyond just a wicker basket.

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    Replies
    1. They are VERY Sussex, but these days much imitated in Taiwan.

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  17. YOU HAVE CHESTNUT TREES THERE????

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