An English 18th Century Wrought Iron Spit Engine.

Recently acquired from a kentish family ,this George III period spit engine was purchased from a dealer in Sissinghurst Kent where it was obtained from a local dealer who cleared it from a barn at Sissinghurst Castle that is now a National Trust Property,(this is currently being researched as thankfully i know both dealers involved and will be updated when i have confirmed this).

For ages, servants or caged animals turned meat-roasting spits before a fire. In the 18th century, clockmakers and blacksmiths invented gear-driven devices to replace the servant boys (commonly called "Jack") in aristocratic kitchens. A cook cranked such a weight-and-pulley wall-mounted mechanism, then, as the jack's weight descended, ropes turned gears that rotated the meat skewer

This example stands 

13.5" high

17" wide fly wheel

For similar examples see 

 Gentle,Rupert and Field,Belinda,Domestic metalwork 1640-1820 acc1998,pp.247-249

Christies oak and country sale 14/11/2010 lot 43

Wilkinsons The Deeley Collection 12/12/2010

Keith Hockin Antiques.

In good condition with signs of good pitting and oxidisation

and would grace any country house or kitchen