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Social History

Social History Collection

Of particular significance in the collection are the relics of the ancient guilds of Salisbury, most memorably the Merchant Tailors’ Giant and his companion Hob Nob. Civic objects include items salvaged from the Council House fire in 1780, standard weights and measures and collections of Salisbury-made bells, clocks and watches, silver, guns and cutlery. More recent manufacturing history is represented by a Scout Motor car made in Salisbury in 1912 – one of only two surviving today.

City Standards
Local weights and measures including...
City Watch Horn
City watch horn, about 1675.
Clement Tosier Skillet
Metalworking provided employment for roughly...
Communion Cup
Communion Cup from St Thomas's...
Dorothy Devenish’s Coffee Service
Dorothy Devenish, from Little Durnford...
Giant and Hob-Nob
The Salisbury Giant is a...
Great Bustards
The four great bustards at...
Guild Objects
The merchant guild was a...
Jim Smith’s Backpack
Local man Jim Smith volunteered...
Lantern Clock, 1636
Brass lantern clock by Nicholas...
Mortar and Pestle
A bronze mortar, cast from...
Pocket Pistols by Richard Parrett
Rare pair of 18th century...
Reform Bottles
Reform bottles of Lord Brougham...
Salisbury Cutlery
The Salisbury cutlery industry, which...
Salisbury Silver
Salisbury was accorded its own...
Scout Motor Car
This car was made by...
Shoehorn
Shoehorn engraved and inscribed by...
Sir Walter Alcock’s Engine
A scale model of the...
Stumpwork Mirror Frame
This stumpwork, or raised work,...
Tailor’s Hall Window
The Tailors’ Hall was on...
Town Crier’s Bell
Town crier’s bell, early 18th...
Winchester Bushel
Bushels measured grain and other...