LAST week's Craven Curiosity brought a flurry of correct answers.

It was a pair a butter pats - which was correctly identified by Molly Preston, of Austwick, Martin Robinson, of Arncliffe, farmer's daughter Phyllis Capstick of Hellifield, George Parker, of Giggleswick, and Keith Coates.

Experts from Craven Museum and Gallery tell us: "These objects would have been used to shape the butter produced on dairy farms into blocks ready to sell.

"Butter pats were made from light wood in pairs like these, each with one smooth outer surface and one ridged inner surface. They allowed the manipulation of butter fat into shapes without the risk of melting through contact with human hands.

"To make butter traditionally, milk must first be repetitively churned until it separates into butter milk and butter fat. The butter fat is then removed, rinsed out and salted to enhance flavour and to preserve.

"The butter pats could then be used to squeeze out any excess water and shape into blocks or press into moulds.

"Butter hands were used well into the 20th century across Britain in grocers’ shops to cut and shape pieces of butter from large blocks for customers and in domestic kitchens to form individual butter balls for serving at the table."

We are now inviting guesses about this week's Craven Curiosity. They can be sent to news@cravenherald.co.uk

Meanwhile, all items in this column are on display in Craven Museum and Gallery, which is located in Skipton Town Hall