A nice vintage garden border fork and spade set. In good condition condition and with lovely patina, both have come into contact with paint or cement at some stage and although this has largely been cleaned away some remains, particularly on the spade. The spade is marked Ward and Payne Sheffield, and the fork is unmarked. This suggests to us that they are not an exact matched pair, but clearly they are very similar. Neither has any damage. Each features an original wooden tapered D type handle authentic to the shaft (Yay fork handles!). A beautiful present for the gardener in your life this Spring.
Size: Length (both) is 90cm, with the head of the spade being 22cm.
Ward and Payne Ltd
Ward and Payne Ltd came into existence in Sheffield in 1843, although the original company run by the Ward family was started at the turn of the century, we think 1803. In 1882 the company purchased a recently flooded site known as the Limbrick Wheel in Hillsborough Sheffield and rebuilt it as the Limbrick or Limerick Works. This was the brainchild of David Ward, son of the original David Ward who created the company. He later went on to become Mayor of the city of Sheffield.
The company was acquired in 1967 by Wilkinson's Sword and that company continued to sell Ward and Payne tools.
During its long existence Ward and Payne has produced high quality gardening tools, woodworking tools (chisels etc), tools for metalwork, plumbing and even glue pots!
Ward and Payne garden and horticultural tools are much valued by enthusiasts and are often restored. This involves cleaning down the steel and often replacing the wooden handles with new hardwood handles. Should you purchase one of these restored items and subsequently need to replace the metalwork it will of course still be the same item ;).
