A small late 17th century English oak documents chest, of boarded construction with five original decoratively engraved locks and hasps and with a notch cut in the lid above each, to indicate which key would have gone. A later label records “Guild of Holy Trinity” accounts covering 1545–1651 and 1652–1835, suggesting that it formerly housed historic records associated with Wisbech’s guild and its successor, the Corporation. The chest therefore almost certainly originates from the old guildhall building in Wisbech, which still stands, and was transferred along with the accounts to the library of the famous local museum where they still remain today, which is no doubt when the label was written as part of the archival process. There is also some much older handwriting on the lid, just above the paper labels (see picture 5), but I find it too faded to read- a light clean and waxing might bring it back to the surface! Original forget hinges and untouched patina.
53cm length 32.5cm width 17cm height
A small late 17th century English oak documents chest, of boarded construction with five original decoratively engraved locks and hasps and with a notch cut in the lid above each, to indicate which key would have gone. A later label records “Guild of Holy Trinity” accounts covering 1545–1651 and 1652–1835, suggesting that it formerly housed historic records associated with Wisbech’s guild and its successor, the Corporation. The chest therefore almost certainly originates from the old guildhall building in Wisbech, which still stands, and was transferred along with the accounts to the library of the famous local museum where they still remain today, which is no doubt when the label was written as part of the archival process. There is also some much older handwriting on the lid, just above the paper labels (see picture 5), but I find it too faded to read- a light clean and waxing might bring it back to the surface! Original forget hinges and untouched patina.
53cm length 32.5cm width 17cm height
