A RARE medieval jug loaned by Salisbury Museum is among the new items on display at Trowbridge Museum this week as part of its Magna Carta anniversary exhibition Game of Barons.
The exhibition, which has been running since the end of February and explores the signing of the charter in 1215, has introduced the 13th century “Laverstock” jug along with a number of finds from Clarendon Palace.
Additional items include a medieval key from Old Sarum, which is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury, as well as a piece from a stone carved statue and ceramic floor tile pieces.
The exhibition already includes a 6ft plaster maquette of Trowbridge Baron Henry de Bohun, who was one of 25 barons elected to ensure King John honoured the charter, plus replica medieval weaponry and Lego castles.
Exhibition curator Katherine White said: “The new items have been kindly loaned by the Salisbury Museum director Adrian Green. I asked whether they had any early 13th century artefacts for our exhibition and they obliged.
“The Laverstock jug is the rarest of the items on show and it would have been considered a fine piece of tableware at the time. The medieval key from Old Sarum is also fascinating.
“We also have the pieces from Clarendon Palace, which is exciting as it has royal connections. The exhibition looks at the royalty of the period, including King John and his father King Henry II, who both stayed at the place.
“The floor tiles are very interesting as they are ceramic and have different designs on them. You would need to have a lot of money to afford to have a tiled floor at the time.”
The exhibition also includes a facsimile of the Magna Carta, displays about daily life, food, warfare and the troubled reigns of Henry II and Richard the Lionheart, along with information on heraldry in medieval times.
Miss White added: “People have really enjoyed the exhibition so far, especially the children, who have loved the Lego displays and found the replica medieval weaponry interesting. We hope to have more new items over the coming months.”
The exhibition will run until July 25 and for more information, visit www.trowbridgemuseum.co.uk or www.trowbridgemagnacarta.blogspot.com
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