Going loopy...

Anyone have a clue what this is?
It has concrete in the tube and was found near an old blacksmith's shop... which doesn't mean it was used there so...
I have my suspicions...
Thank you for your time!

 

Some kind of door or gate fastener?

 

Seems too massive for that, unless it's a huge gate...

 

Ground anchor.

 

Should that reply come with a wink?

 

Some kind of hitch?

 

I have no idea but all the above answers sound plausible to me.

 

My bet would be for a gate. Like a big cattle gate.

 

The concrete in it is the issue methinks... Unless it was re-purposed at some point.
Now that some shots have been taken at it... I think it may be (the concrete is still a problem here) for tying up a boat/ship. I've seen similar things mounted ashore or to piers so that a pre-set loop can just be hooked over them temporarily. I've also seen similar mounted to hook to pull against so as to help pull a steamboat up rapids and also to pull boats along canals to locks or just to dock temporarily so...

 

I think that might be what owned meant by a ground anchor.

 

Ah, do you guys not use that term? It's used for any fixing that's anchored in the ground here. For example, I've friends with them in front of their houses, used for chaining a motorbike too. That looks like one used to keep something down, rather than neccessarily secure.

 

To us...and maybe only me actually... this could be an oxymoron in that why would you anchor the ground? This is why I asked if there should've been a wink with your comment.
(the word oxymoron is, in itself, just that by the way...)

 

Ah, gotcha.

We do use the term sea anchor when being pedantic, so I suspect that's why the ground thing. As opposed to being grounded.

 

'Sea'...as a sailor I know that a 'sea anchor' is just that... a drag in the water to help control a boat in bad weather.

 

Ahh! 'Fathomed'... Clever Skeez!