Pig Lifting Tool

This iron tool was used at the Summerlee Iron Works. It was found during excavations on the site during the 1980s.

The bar was used as a lever to help lift freshly-cast iron pigs out of their moulds. The iron was cast into bars in moulds in an area of specially-prepared sand called a 'pig bed'.

After the iron had cooled enough to solidify it was broken up with hammers and tools like this were used to lift it out of the sand.