Hello List, "ledging barrel" I wonder if this could be a horizontally cut half barrel used for leaching lye from ashes to make soap? ledging / leaching ? The fact that this is bequeathed to a married daughter might be relevant. A leaching barrel could be hollowed out from a stout trunk or be made from planks as was the standard barrel, and could be placed on a ledge or shelf to allow the lye to drain to one end, where it could be released for soap making. Just a thought. regards, Ada Ackerly, Melbourne, Australia formerly Ackerly DocuSearch