Site: Horse scratching post (1 memorial)
SE11, Orient Street
This very unusual item was brought to our attention by an information board in nearby West Square.
Apparently horses need to scratch for many different reasons, some of which would be better dealt with by a vet. Horsey people do provide scratching posts for their horses to use, normally with something rough or at least knobbly attached. To our non-equine minds this iron post looks too smooth to provide a satisfactory scratch - perhaps it started out rougher. Sources of our expertise include: Animaderm and Listen to Your Horse. There are worrying signs of iron rot at the base of the post.
This 1895 map shows that immediately to the south of the post there was a small undeveloped area. Scratching posts are used by horses of their own volition so is it possible there were paddocks here? This 1914 map shows the area developed by a few large non-residential buildings. perhaps there was some small industrial use.
c.1830-60 this was called East Street.
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