EARLY DAYS OF CITY COMPANIES BROUGHT TO LIFE
Pilgrim Badge, Thomas Becket returning to England
Elaborately decorated pointed shoes, a silver chain of office found in the Thames mud and a collection of merchants' seals are among the 1500 objects on display in the Museum of London's new Medieval London gallery opened on 25 November 2005. They provide a vivid glimpse of life in London at the time when the City's craft guilds were being formed and its civic government was evolving into the basis of the system we know today. The gallery tells the story of London from the end of Roman rule in AD410 to the accession of Elizabeth I in 1558, charting its growth from a deserted ruin into a capital city, centre of production and flourishing port, with rich trade connections throughout the known world.
Pointed shoe known as a 'poulaine' with its toe stuffed with moss
The Museum has unique collections relating to London's early crafts and trades. Surprisingly, everyday objects made from leather and textiles, metal and wood have actually been preserved rather than destroyed by lying for centuries in the waterlogged earth beneath the City. With so much redevelopment in the past few decades, archaeologists have made exciting discoveries, and new techniques have enabled conservators to restore objects that, until now, would have been too fragile to touch.
Saxon brooch found in Covent Garden
From the 15th century Guildhall come the statues of the Virtues, the dedication stone from Guildhall Chapel, and the massive iron City Common Chest, which once held important documents. Its substantial locks meant that six key-holding members of the City's Corporation had to be present whenever it was opened. Tools last used over 600 years ago by London's armourers, blacksmiths, leatherworkers, carpenters, and goldsmiths are remarkably similar to tools used today.
Pilgrim Badge, St George slaying the dragon
From a humble wicker fish trap and children's toys, to luxury goods made of ivory and coral, amber and glass, the objects combine to spark the imagination and re-create a city of richness and variety, enterprise and ideas.
Jack Lohman, the Museum's Director says, 'The Museum of London is overwhelmed by the incredibly generous support for the Medieval London gallery by the livery companies of the City of London. They, together with the Corporation of London and the DCMS/Wolfson Challenge Fund, have enabled the Museum to redisplay these significant galleries this autumn. This brings a fresh and innovative approach to the story of the emergence of this city to the new and diverse audiences of modern London.'
People will be able to find out more about many of the objects on display, as well a the history of the city itself, biographies of particular Londoners and the latest historical and archaeological research, on gallery computers and on the Museum's website www.museumoflondon.org.uk. There will be a variety of family events between Christmas and New Year. For more information please call 0870 444 3851.
