It's that time again...#FindsFriday! It is week five of our #DebrisDiary as sifting continues, and volunteers have been focusing on bags of debris from the attics which run east from the gatehouse. These attics have an intriguing history.
@NatTrustArch
Tree-ring dating of timbers in this area indicates that they were felled between 1551 and 1579. This period of Elizabeth I’s reign was particularly dangerous for Catholics like the Bedingfelds; not the most obvious time for them to have been investing in home improvements.
It has long been suggested that there was a secret chapel in the house, so perhaps this phase of work relates to the covert creation of a discreet place of worship on the top floor of the house. One which was quick dash away from the priest hole. 📷RedZebra
The discovery of a little bone key fob labelled ‘Sacristy old chapel’ in debris from the easternmost attic is quite exciting. The chapel in the grounds of Oxburgh was finished in 1836, and could reasonably be considered to be the ‘new chapel’ for quite some time afterwards.
This little key fob raises questions about where the ‘old chapel’ was. Could this be evidence that this attic was indeed used as a chapel, and was called the ‘old chapel’ after the chapel in the grounds was built?
Last year we found a lovely woven collar/cuff which we think is mid-C16th in date. This week a volunteer found another piece of woven textile, with a diamond pattern. Photos have been sent to the weaver in Portugal who identified last year’s piece as being of significance.
Towards the end of the week this black wax seal came out of the debris. It appears to have an anchor impression stamped onto it and is sat on a piece of black-edged paper. More research is certainly needed but it looks like it could be an admiralty death notice.
Finally we have these shards of ceramic. Look closely and you can see some historic methods of repair!
As ever, thank you to curator Anna Forrest for these fascinating insights into the finds. Thank you also to @DCMS @HeritageFundUK @wolfsonfdn for supporting our #RaisetheRoof project.
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