Milk churn

The usage of the word 'churn' was retained for describing these containers, although they were not themselves used for 'churning' butter.

Their lids had a small hole in its outer rim for tying the producers label on.

[2][3] In Britain, Ireland and other European countries, milk churns would be left by dairy farmers by the roadside on purpose-built platforms, or stands, at the right height to be loaded on to the dairy's cart or lorry.

They fell out of use when milk began to be collected by tanker from the farm and ceased entirely by 1979.

Some stands remain in the countryside as historical features, but most have been dismantled or left to decay.