The Washington herald., 1911-09-23

understand that a suitable home at
last has been found for the "All-age
London Museum" which now is being
temporarily housed at Kensington Pal
ace. The secretary thus far already
has catalogued some 5000 exhibits of
purely London origin. Mr.. Guy Fran
els Laking, the superintendent, has
wide range of experience in these mat
ters. For years he has been the keeper
of the Kings armor at Windsor Castle
The Hilton Price collection, which
by the trustees has been acquired out OF
the funds supplied by the anonymous
donor for the purpose of establishing an
"All-age London" museum. forms the
nucleus of the new exhibition. This
contains specimens of the. stone and
bronze ages, of the Roman period OF
Samian ware vessels, imported during
the first and second centuries from the
south of France; English pottery,
ranging from the Norman times to the
last century; English tiles and many
pewter vessels and plates; medieval
glass, and other interesting articles
| Of domestic use. Tudor cloth caps found
in the London Ditch, leather work.
spear and lance heads. stirrups and
spurs, ink horns of medieval date,
bankers scales, coins and tokens and
lead crosses from the burial pits on
the site of Christ's Hospital, and an
infinite variety of other articles of To-
cal interest.
Everything has a history; some OF the
exhibits have a double history. Thus the
tenth century sword, now complete, which
is part OF the Hilton Price collection, was
discovered in pieces, which lay far apart.
Many years ago, the hilt and about three
quarters OF the blade were found in the
river mud at Battersea. There was an
inscription on the blade which was un-
finished because of the piece broken of.
1t was supposed to have vanished for
ever. When the Tower Bridge was be-
ing built, fragment of steel was picked
out Of the excavations 1t bore an in
scription which was the sequel to the
message on the Battersea blade. The two
pieces fitted exactly.
Queen Alexandra and the present King
and Queen have shown their sympathy
by lending numerous articles Of historic
interest including many objects relating
to their ancestors. The keeper hopes
that the example will be followed by
every one who can give or lend any article
that will Illustrate Londons life and in
dustIy from the earliest times. Anything
that will typify the dress of past genera
uons, anything that is of interest on ac-
count Of association of place-medievaI
swords and spurs utensils no longer in
use. costumes, prints Illustrative of Lon
don-all these will be welcome.
London has been famous for many in
dustries that have gone to other cities.
and IL is important that these should
be represented and illustrated. Not only
Chelsea porcelain, Battersea enamels,
Lambeth pottery. and Spitalfelds silk
should be sent in, but also specimens of
metropolitan handiwOrk, such as dagger
blades, for which London was famous
in the sixteenth century
Additions to the collection are constant
ly being made A large quantity of rub
bish is offered. but nothing is allowed
TO remain uneXamined, because there is
always the possibility of valuable fnd
among the most unpromising material
Quite recently relics of old Newgate have
been acquired, including the doors of the
prison and the irons that Jack Sheppard
wore when he was caught at last. If a
transaction in which Mr.. Laking is now
engaged is brought to a successful issue
the museum will be enriched with the
existence, ranging from the time OF