Rope Bed Wrench

Early rope beds had a hank of rope wrapped around pegs in a lattice like pattern with a feather bed positioned on top. Suprisingly, they are quite comfortable to sleep on. We had a trundle bed that the grandchildren would sleep on when they slept over. I always tested the comfort of the bed before they went to sleep, to make sure that it would be comfortable for them. Anyway, they slept all night and woke up refreshed. Of course, these were little children. I don't know how I would fare on a full night on a rope bed.
you would usually used two wrenches to tighten the rope. You start at the first peg and twist firmly. Then you twisted the rope after the second peg while slowly releasing the tension of the first wrench. You keep this up until you go around the pegs of the entire bed. You do this at least two more times to achieve a tightly woven lattice work of rope.
You will be amazed at just how tight that you can make the rope.
A little trivia here ...... I'm sure that you have heard the phrase "sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite". that phrase comes from the time when cottages had dirt floors and if you didn't keep your rope beds tightly woven, the bedding would reach the floor and the bugs would get into your bedding.