The History Anorak

The History Anorak

Monday 15 May 2017

Crippled

This strange contraption is called a builder's or painter's cripple. It's a wooden structure designed to offer a platform for workers to stand on while repairing or decorating windows. This one was found in the cellar at Brodsworth Hall in South Yorkshire, an English Heritage property which is being conserved 'as found'.  There's an illustration of one in use in a painter's handbook from 1830.

I can find nothing about the word's etymology so I'm assuming it got its name because of what happened if a builder fell off one.
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7 comments:

  1. Mike@Bit About Britain15 May 2017 at 23:02

    Interesting thought on its etymology; I certainly wouldn't want to use one - what about stepping back to see how you're doing..?! Nice post, raised a smile.

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    1. Unknown20 April 2020 at 20:06

      Almost 3 years isn't too long to wait for a reply, is it? I don't know why it's called a Cripple for sure, but the studs that it's bearing it's weight upon are called Cripple Studs.

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  2. Crimson Kettle16 May 2017 at 08:34

    Is that painter painted on the wall? What a fun display idea.

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  3. R's Rue19 May 2017 at 20:02

    Love.

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  4. Hootin Anni19 May 2017 at 22:14

    Interesting!! I learned something today, thanks to you.

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  5. krishna21 May 2017 at 15:58

    Very interesting historical fact. you also thought about etymology.. really why that tool called like that?

    have a happy sunday.. :)

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  6. Tammy27 May 2017 at 10:52

    Ha-ha! Oops! Hopefully they didn't have far to fall. Have never seen or heard of it before. You should see how they tie wood together here to make a platform when building anything. Definitely very scary!

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Why not add your two pennyworth?

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