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Sometimes I go looking for interesting rabbit holes to go down and tweet a thread about.
Sometimes people send me the strand that will lead me to a thread.
And sometimes unique and unusual inspiration just drops itself straight into my inbox, begging to be looked into. 🧵👇
Sometimes people send me the strand that will lead me to a thread.
And sometimes unique and unusual inspiration just drops itself straight into my inbox, begging to be looked into. 🧵👇
You see way back whenever I set up alerts for online auction houses with the words "Edinburgh" or "Leith" and whenever something is listed with one of those words, I'll get an email. Mainly it's Edinburgh Crystal or Prince Philip memorabilia, or a job lot of Pru Leith cookbooks
But sometimes it's something very interesting indeed. Something you never knew you were looking for until it arrived in your inbox at 3:3AM one morning. And today's #AuctionHouseArtefact is one of those.
Today's #AuctionHouseArtefact is this Leith beggars badge or token. It is inscribed on the front with the earlier version of the burgh crest and motto of Leith (Persevere), and on the back with Leith Poor No. 10 
"The growth of a large class of beggars in medieval times led to the necessity for limiting the numbers of those
officially entitled to beg". This was put into Scottish law as early as 1424. Only those with a badge were allowed to beg, and it had to be worn on outer clothing
officially entitled to beg". This was put into Scottish law as early as 1424. Only those with a badge were allowed to beg, and it had to be worn on outer clothing
Parishes and burghs all over Scotland issued these badges. They had a serial number (No. 10 in this case). Begging was thus made official and strictly controlled. They were generally lead or some other easily cast, cheap metal.
