The metal spades, or hodders, were used to dig the ditches which allowed water to flow out of the fens. The hodding spade has sharp edges for cutting the side of the drain. A cord would be stretched along to show the line of the new edge and the toolman would then work along the line of this card, using both hands to push down the spade. The wooden spades are called slubbers and were used to clear βslubβ (usually clay) from the bottom of the ditches.
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Drainage tools
