List of Objects

Telling a history of our world through objects

Click on the titles in the blue bar below [Location, Theme, Contributor Type, etc.] and then choose a category to see a list of objects - e.g. click Theme and then click War. (All objects have been classified by their contributor.)

You can also chose to see objects from a particular time period by clicking on the dates in the box below.

To start again and see all the objects, click this link: Start again

Time Periods

  1. First Steam Whistle First Steam Whistle Built by engineer Adrian Stephens at the Dowlais Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil. It was a simple safety device to warn ... Contributed by Museum
  2. Handley Page Halifax 'Friday the 13th' Handley Page Halifax 'Friday the 13th' Unique restoration of a WWII Halifax Bomber, of which none were saved for posterity. Contributed by Museum
  3. A Flint Knife A Flint Knife This is a pristine flint blade made from chert of the Upper Chalk of the North Downs. I found this flint knife while ... Contributed by Individual
  4. Lady Lord Lieutenant's Badge of Office Lady Lord Lieutenant's Badge of Office Given to Dione when she became the Countess of Verulam DL as Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant Contributed by Individual
  5. Malcom Hall's Religious Treatise Malcom Hall's Religious Treatise Found it in a book shop in Brighton. Although from Philadelphia, America, may have been printed in UK. Contributed by Individual
  6. Black Coat Black Coat This was my father's coat. He bought it in Liverpool in 1960. Coats like this were built to last and they often got ... Contributed by Individual
  7. Shaft alignment tool, My 1st invention Shaft alignment tool, My 1st invention The pictured alignment tool was my first invention, when I started to cut the Aluminium block it was made from, I was a ... Contributed by Individual
  8. Alaskan comb with bird-like design Alaskan comb with bird-like design A comb made from caribou antler with dramatic use of the form of a stylised bird, possibly the mythical Raven. Contributed by Museum
  9. Colchester Lathe, built during WW2, Colchester Lathe, built during WW2, This lathe was made by Colchester Machine tools, in Colchester, Essex in 1941 as a part of the War effort, many ... Contributed by Individual
  10. Lead Bag Seal From Langham Lead Bag Seal From Langham It is a guano bag seal, brought to the BBC bus by Stuart Elton. Guano is a mixture of bird droppings and is used as an ... Contributed by Individual
  11. Fanny Brawne's engagement ring Fanny Brawne's engagement ring In early 1820 English poet John Keats gave this ring to Fanny Brawne as a statement of his intention to marry her... Contributed by Museum
  12. Electrical Hairbrush From Colchester Electrical Hairbrush From Colchester Bill Wendon brought this electrical hairbrush to the BBC bus on Colchester high street. He runs a hairdressers in ... Contributed by Individual
  13. Sword Sword My husband found this whilst ploughing a field in High Easter, a friend believes it is of middle eastern origin. We ... Contributed by Individual
  14. Palaeolithic hand axe Palaeolithic hand axe I found this Acheulian culture hand axe in Aylsford, Kent. It is Palaeolithic in age and may be 250,000 years old. What ... Contributed by Individual
  15. Fairing from Colchester Fairing from Colchester Pauline Bartrop was given this fairing from her grandmother, Rebecca Mary Byfield and Pauline brought it down to the BBC ... Contributed by Individual
  16. Conveyancing Document from Colchester Conveyancing Document from Colchester Russell Caines from Saxons Estate Agents in Colchester, brought this document to the BBC bus. The document comes from a ... Contributed by Individual
  17. Alfred Watkins' Bee Meter Alfred Watkins' Bee Meter Invented by Alfred Watkins and made in Hereford, the Bee Meter was the first reliable photographic light meter Contributed by Museum
  18. Iron Age Coin from Colchester Iron Age Coin from Colchester Roy Charlton from Colchester brought this item along to the BBC bus. Laura McLean, from the Portable Antiqities Scheme ... Contributed by Individual
  19. Small Handheld Persussion "Muff" Pistol Small Handheld Persussion "Muff" Pistol I like this gun because its basic and serviceable and all about not being used or seen. The owner didnt want to flash ... Contributed by Individual
  20. Silver Groat From Colchester Silver Groat From Colchester Roy Charlton from Colchester found this in a field whilst out metal detecting. It is a medieval coin made from silver, ... Contributed by Individual
  21. Iron Age Pottery from Mersea Iron Age Pottery from Mersea This piece of pottery was found on East Mersea Island beach by Peter Wiltcher whilst out walking. Peter regularly looks ... Contributed by Individual
  22. Copper Medallion from Colchester Copper Medallion from Colchester The medallion depicts Wilhem, or William Louis Bocquillon a Paris born composer. Peter French was given the medallion by ... Contributed by Individual
  23. 'Wanted' advertisement 'Wanted' advertisement A poster requesting anyone with a steam ship or horse and cart to transport candidates to hustings for the 1826 Election Contributed by Museum
  24. Ancient Egyptian servant girl statuette Ancient Egyptian servant girl statuette Ancient Egyptian statue of a servant girl. Her natural pose breaks away from the formal style of most Egyptian art. Contributed by Museum
  25. The beginning of flight The beginning of flight Kite flying is a harmonious blend of culture, art and science and nearly everyone at sometime in their lives has found ... Contributed by Individual
  26. 1936 London Underground Tube Map 1936 London Underground Tube Map Fred Little, John's Uncle, picked up this Harry Beck designed London Tube Map from 1936. Uncle Fred lived near Alperton ... Contributed by Individual
  27. French sword, Fishguard invasion, 1797 French sword, Fishguard invasion, 1797 This sword was taken from the surrendered French forces during the invasion of Fishguard in 1797. It carries on ... Contributed by Museum
  28. A Tudor Child's Shoe A Tudor Child's Shoe This tiny shoe was voted the Visitors' Choice during February Half Term at Sulgrave Manor in Northamptonshire. It is ... Contributed by Museum
  29. Late Bronze Age Ox Yoke Late Bronze Age Ox Yoke Very few prehistoric Irish wooden yokes have ever been found. This example has no provenance, however it was most likely ... Contributed by Museum
  30. Trench art money belt, 1916 Trench art money belt, 1916 This is one of two belts made by this soldier in the ranks of the East Kent Regiment while in France. The amount of ... Contributed by Individual
  31. Schweppes Glass Bottle from West Hendon Schweppes Glass Bottle from West Hendon The glass bottle was dug out from rubbish tip near Schweppes Factory in West London during the 1980s. Michael Andre from ... Contributed by Individual
  32. Radio transcripts 1960s RAF wives Radio transcripts 1960s RAF wives I have a scrapbook, a collection of newspaper articles and radio boradcast transcripts made by my Nanna, Mrs Win ... Contributed by Individual
  33. Fragment of Zeppelin from Colchester Fragment of Zeppelin from Colchester George Hunnable, Grandfather of Michael, collected a fragment of the Zeppelin airship, L33, when it came down in Little ... Contributed by Individual
  34. Nocturnal or Nightdial Nocturnal or Nightdial The nocturnal is a navigational instrument that was first invented in the 16th Century. By focusing on the stars it can ... Contributed by Museum
  35. Stepney Spare wheel, made for early cars Stepney Spare wheel, made for early cars The Stepney Spare Wheel was invented by Thomas Morris Davies in Llanelli in 1904. At that time, early motor cars were ... Contributed by Museum
  36. Corfield Periflex Camera Corfield Periflex Camera This is a Periflex 3A camera. It was the first new camera to be produced at the Corfield factory in Ballymoney, Co. ... Contributed by Museum
  37. John Nevin's sword John Nevin's sword John Nevin lived at Derrykeighan, near Ballymoney, Co. Antrim and was a member of the Society of United Irishmen. The ... Contributed by Museum
  38. Sunderland Lustre Pottery Jug Sunderland Lustre Pottery Jug Pottery produced in the area around the port of Sunderland reflecting local industry of shipping, mining and ... Contributed by Individual
  39. School Attendance Medal from Thurrock School Attendance Medal from Thurrock Percy Catton, Grandfather of Jonathan Catton, received the medal for regular attendance at the West Thurrock National ... Contributed by Individual
  40. First known survey of land in Brighton First known survey of land in Brighton The survey is contained in a manuscript book called Geometrie which I bought in December 1987 from an antiquarian ... Contributed by Individual
  41. Robert Recorde's mathematical inventions Robert Recorde's mathematical inventions This book is proof that Robert Recorde invented the equals sign and used it as a symbol of equality in mathematics Contributed by Museum
  42. CAT'S EYE Road safety CAT'S EYE Road safety This object is one of millions made and seen by most people although often they do not recognize one when taken out of ... Contributed by Individual
  43. Book: Princes Elizabeth's wedding gifts Book: Princes Elizabeth's wedding gifts A book of wedding gifts, you ask? Well, anyone’s wedding list would provide an insight and social history of the ... Contributed by Individual
  44. Bank Note from the French Revolution Bank Note from the French Revolution This is a bank note issued under the new regime in France following the Revolution. It was issued in 1792, whilst Louis ... Contributed by Individual
  45. Wooden cigar boxes from India Wooden cigar boxes from India Edward Cockerill's father was posted to India during World War 2. When he returned to Leicestershire he brought these ... Contributed by Individual
  46. Plaster statue Plaster statue Lindsey Baker from Sheffield owns a plaster statue of a German Shepherd dog and a young boy, which she says dates from ... Contributed by Individual
  47. Paddle Steamer Dish Paddle Steamer Dish This little pottery dish was made by the Dartmouth Pottery as a souvenir of a trip aboard the paddle steamer Bristol ... Contributed by Museum
  48. PS Clacton Belle Bell PS Clacton Belle Bell This handbell was used by stewards aboard the paddle steamer PS Clacton Belle to summon passengers to dinner aboard a ... Contributed by Museum
  49. PS Mercury Launch Mallet PS Mercury Launch Mallet This finely modelled launch mallet was used by Mrs Ballantyne to launch the paddle steamer Mercury from the Fairfield ... Contributed by Museum
  50. PS Princess Alice Box PS Princess Alice Box The terrible disaster concerning the loss of this London paddle steamer in 1878, struck the hearts of the nation. The ... Contributed by Museum

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