Sow Breaking Hammer

This hammer was found on the site of the Summerlee Iron Works. It was used to break-up iron cast from the blast furnaces.

The cast iron bars made at Summerlee were called 'pigs'. This is because them were cast from a central channel so that they looked like they were piglets suckling at a sow. This 'sow' needed to be broken up and taken away afterwards to make ready for the next casting.

The pieces of sow would be re-used by melting them down.