Down on the Farm | Nantwich painting | Two samplers

The Worleston Ring | The Turner donation

The Museum has acquired a banner of the Nantwich District of the Independent Order of Oddfellows. Now called Nantwich and Crewe District branch, the order meets in Acton. The large banner (that's the front and back of it above) would have been carried by two members with four escorts. For more details of the Order and the local branch, click here. 

The new farm exhibit

WE have acquired a new exhibit that would appeal to today's children as much as to those who were, or had, young children in the 1950s. It is a model farm complete with buildings, animals, equipment and trees. It was made in the days when manufacturers could used lead in making models - before plastic became the safer option.

   The farm, bought in a local auction, is dated at around the 1950s, but may be older. Some of the items, such as the farmhouse and a haystack are home-made - possibly the starting point for a child's collection, added to at birthdays and Christmases over the years.

lWhile we have a budget for making new purchases to add to the museum's collections, it also helps us if people can donate items. We would particularly like to build up our collection of children's toys. Before you throw something away, think for a moment about whether it is something that we might like to receive. Thank you. 

lTop of page

TWO samplers by the Tunstall sisters (presumably) of Nantwich are also in the collection. The first (left, below) was produced by Maria Tunstall in 1824 and the second by Caroline Tunstall in 1825. 

The verse reads:

My work's composed of black and white,

And various colours somewhat bright.

It is but small, but I am young.

Slow moves my needle, fast my tongue.

lTop of page

Here, the verse reads:

Jesus! permit Thy gracious name to stand

As the first efforts of an infant's hand.

And as her fingers o'er the canvas move,

Engage her tender heart to seek Thy love.

With Thy dear children may she have a part

And write Thy name Thyself upon her heart.   

AN ancient gold "snake" ring unearthed at Worleston, near Nantwich, by a metal detector - and which was declared Treasure Trove - was acquired by Nantwich Museum thanks to a bequest and additional donation.
   The spiral ring, thought to be unique in Britain, dates from the late Roman or early medieval period. 

   The ring was bought using a bequest from one of the museum's former volunteer workers, Betty Goodwin, which was substantially increased by her family to cover the full asking price.

   An expert at the British museum said there appeared to be no close British parallel to the ring although it is similar to a Roman ring found at Hadrian's Wall.

   While spiral gold rings are not uncommon in Scandinavia, and are dated from around AD 200 - 600, they are generally plain. The Worleston Ring is decorated with triangular punch marks and the British Museum says it can't therefore be described as typically Scandinavian.
   What is not in question is that had Nantwich Museum not managed to buy the ring the British Museum would have attempted to do so, such is the interest in it.
   The former curator of Nantwich Museum, Susan Pritchard, said at the time of its acquisition: "We are thrilled to have been able to acquire this fine piece of ancient jewellery. It's a very delicate ring which could only have been worn by someone with very slender fingers and it's fascinating to wonder who that person might have been."

   The ring was discovered by treasure hunter David Beckett who lives near Crewe.

lThe Goodwin family were guests at a reception to mark the opening of the Nantwich Treasures exhibition - where the ring was a central attraction - in February 2005.  

lTop of page

The Turner donation 

THE Museum acquired some items from the family of the late Mrs J.R.T.Turner of Nantwich - which includes boudoir caps (an example is pictured) and a cape decorated with metal beads (picture below).

   We believe the caps were donned by ladies as they awoke to start a new day.

   The items donated by Mrs Turner's family also include an evening skirt, nightdresses and aprons. Another acquisition was a mourning cape. The beaded cape is modelled by Nantwich girl, Emily Hopkins (right) who worked in the museum on a project to catalogue items in the Museum's reserve collection, including the Turner donation, while studying at university.

 lTop of page