Trapping Moles. How Old?

[Tiercel 6,986]

I have seen photos of old wooden mole traps. I was just wondering how old the traditional methods of mole trapping are? Were they controled in other ways prior to the traps?

 

TC

[Steve Albano 21]

Seems to me that if you went back far enough in history, you would probably get to a time where most people had more pressing issues to worry about than moles.

[glenayers1951 0]

Now their is another animal I have never seen apart from on tv.

[hutch6 550]

Seems to me that if you went back far enough in history, you would probably get to a time where most people had more pressing issues to worry about than moles.

 

Don't be ridiculous

[Steve Albano 21]

Don't be ridiculous

:D :D :D

[Steve Albano 21]

OTC is the person to answer this question, not me, but I know both wooden traps and metal traps made by blacksmiths go back at least into the middle of the 1800's. Not sure how much further than that they go back.

Edited April 18, 2013 by Steve Albano

[Mick C. 229]

Think a snare was used before someone invented the trap<br /><br />

[moxy 617]

Seems to me that if you went back far enough in history, you would probably get to a time where most people had more pressing issues to worry about than moles.

Probably so but around a century ago molecatchers were employed full time by the local parish councils. I once found the minuets and ledger from a council meeting from the early 1900's online somewhere.

The molecatcher was shown to receive a regular wage but ended up getting sacked for having a drink problem. Lol.

 

If I can find it again I will pop it up.

 

Just found another snipet from a bit earlier;

 

The endless capacity of small communities like Sutton to almost literally ‘make

mountains out of molehills’ can be seen in the following extract taken from The Township

Accounts Book, (which covers the period from 1834 until early 1839).

“1836

An agreement this 9th day of February 1836

between the inhabitants of Sutton and John

Shackleton of Sutton that he the said John

Shackleton engages to take the moles and

To spread all the mole hills in the said

Township for 7 years at 4 pounds per year.

If any complaint be made that he has

Not done his duty, he shall be discharged

From his employ by the consent or

Majority of two thirds of the occupiers

Present at a meeting convened on

The occasion by giving three months

Notice from the aforesaid meeting.

I John Shackleton engage and

Enter into the above agreement as

Witnessed my hand the day and

Year above written.

X (John Shackleton)

Witness J. D. Heaton.”

It appeared that the services of the illiterate John Shackleton were not satisfactory

because a year later another illiterate worker George Hudson had replaced him. He received one

third extra for doing the same work as his predecessor.

“1837

An agreement made this 5th day

Of May 1837 between the inhabitants of Sutton and

George Hudson of Sutton that he the said

George Hudson engages to

take the moles and to spread

all the mole hills in the said

Township for 7 years at

£6. 0s per year. If any

complaint be made that

he has not done his duty, he

shall be discharged from his

employ by the consent or

majority of two thirds of the

occupiers present at

a meeting convened on the

occasion by giving one month notice

from the aforesaid meeting

I George Hudson engage and enter

into the above agreement

as Witnessed my hand the day and

Year above written.

X (George Hudson)

 

:laugh: £6 a year, hes on more than i am now.

I have also come across reference to a molecatcher on a cencus dated 1641 so the illiterate go back some time.

[Matt 160]

I think molecatchers were using the old board top, snare type traps powered by withies for several hundred years. I think the old 'drop pot' type traps date back even further.

[paulus 26]

Now their is another animal I have never seen apart from on tv.

stick to watching tv about your boat mate, was it a rolf harris programme or jim will fix it