Bronze Cauldron

1300s

This bronze cauldron found in New Elvet was used for ordinary, everyday cooking. Considering its size, it could have been owned by a family or shared in the community. To cook, the cauldron would have been suspended above an open fire or placed in the embers. How is this similar or different from the way we cook today?

Waterloo Hotel Spoon

1900s 

This spoon has ‘Waterloo Hotel Durham’ inscribed on it. The hotel was located at 61 Old Elvet. It was made by Walter and Hall, who were based in Sheffield.

Following the defeat of Napoleon’s French army at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, two hotels in Old Elvet changed their names to the Waterloo Hotel. One of them is still a hotel, which is now called ‘The Royal County’.  

Dentures  

1800s-1900s 

These dentures are made of vulcanite and enamel. There is a gap on the left side, perhaps for an existing tooth. There is even a metal disc on the top, which is part of the suction mechanism which was used to help keep the dentures in place

Dentures were far more common prior to the introduction of the National Health Service; it is estimated that in 1968, the majority of over 65-year-olds possessed no natural teeth. At the beginning of the 20^th century, the cost of dentures was the same as several months of wages for average working men. If dentures were expensive and valued, how did this set end up in the River Wear?  

Lead Comb    

1500s-1700s 

During this period, strong single-sided combs were used to detangle hair, whereas thin double-sided combs were used for finding head lice (nits). In Europe, lead combs were sometimes used to dye lighter hair, a darker colour. This is because of the way lead interacts with the natural components in the hair. People dyed their hair to look younger, but lead combs can cause lead poisoning, which actually leads to hair loss and other health issues. A strand of red hair was found on this comb when it was recovered from the River Wear over 300 years later.  

Watches 

1800s-2000s 

These watches could all be considered valuable to their owners, but not for the same reasons. Pocket watches like that on the bottom left were once a symbol of wealth, but from the late 19^th to early 20^th century, they became commonplace for everyone to wear.

The watch on the right looks like a Rolex. Rolex is an expensive luxury brand, but this one is a fake. The owner may have wanted to appear wealthy without having to pay the £5-45 thousand that the original watches cost.

The watch on the top left is a nurses watch. These watches were never meant to show wealth or statues. They were a symbol of achievement, often personalised and given as graduation gifts to nursing students.

If these watches were valuable to their owners, how did they end up in the River Wear? 

Horseshoe Charm  

1900s 

The horseshoe is now a lucky charm to ward off evil. The origin of the horseshoe as good luck stems from a 10th century story about an English bishop named St. Dunstan. He was known as the patron saint of blacksmiths. When the Devil came to his door, he forced a horseshoe on the Devil’s cloven hoof very painfully. After this, the Devil agreed to never enter over a threshold with a horseshoe nailed above it. There are many different versions of this story told throughout Britain and Ireland. The horseshoe is now a lucky charm to ward off evil. 

Playbill from Drury Lane Theatre 

1769 

Theatre was incredibly popular in Durham during the 17^th and 18^th century. This playbill has survived incredibly well and is advertising performances of plays called ‘The Two Lovers’ and ‘The Fortune Hunters’. These plays took place at Durham’s Drury Lane Theatre, which was down a narrow alleyway leading to the river from Saddler Street, and was named after the famous London attraction.

Banner Belt Fitting 

1900s 

This belt fitting was found in the River Wear near Elvet Bridge. It would have been used to support the pole when carrying a banner. Miners Banners are carried in the procession that crosses Elvet Bridge during the annual Durham Miner’s Gala. Starting in 1871, this event is a celebration of the region’s miners. 

Band of Hope Medallion  

1900s 

The Temperance Movement of the 19th Century encouraged people to not drink alcohol. It was aimed at both children and adults. Band of Hope medallions, first made in 1855, were handed out to people to celebrate and encourage sobriety. 

Mayor Coin 

1911 

This coin depicts the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry, commemorated as Mayor and Mayoress of Durham. It is remarkable as it was found on 31st August 2011 by Gary Bankhead, exactly 100 years from the date it celebrated!

Pilgrim Badge and Pilgrim Pendant  

1300s, 1900s  

Both of these objects were found in the River Wear. They show the practice of throwing religious items into the river as offerings, done by two people born centuries apart. They are both St. Cuthbert's Cross, symbolising the saint of Durham and showing the continued importance of this city to the Christian faith. 

Harmonica Reed Plate and Music Sheet Stand 

1800s – 1900s  

Harmonicas are wind instruments with two reed plates on each side, and one comb in the middle. The rest of this harmonica is missing, with only one reed plate found. Music sheet stands hold sheet music for musicians to read while playing their instruments. Perhaps both these objects were used by musicians on the bridges of Durham, just as street musicians continue to play on the same bridges today. 

Jewish Love Token   

1900s 

These types of tokens were exchanged between partners or friends during a long period of separation. Inscribed in Hebrew, the left heart reads ‘MIZPAH’, which can be interpreted as ‘watchtower’ or ‘May God Watch Over You’. The right heart is inscribed with a passage from the Bible: “The Lord Watch Between Thee and Me”. 

‘Paul’ Knuckleduster   

1900s 

Knuckledusters, also known as brass knuckles, are a weapon designed to be worn around the knuckles in hand-to-hand fighting. They were criminalised in the 1980s. Perhaps this one was thrown away soon after, because the owner’s name was inscribed on it.   

Divinity House Tree Note 

1887  

Arthur Beanlands wrote this note and planted a tree to commemorate the 50th Jubilee of Queen Victoria on 20 June 1887. The text of the note reads:

This tree was planted on
June 20th 1887 being the
occasion of the Jubilee of
our Gracious Queen Victoria,
She having reigned 50 years
to-day. It was planted by
Arthur Beanlands M.A. and
his family then occupiers of
Divinity House – at the time..

Arthur was one of the first students at Durham University and studied Engineering. He came to Durham as a student and made it his home. He was a Civil Engineer and Mining Surveyor. He also served as Observer and Lecturer of Astronomy, as Treasurer to the University, and even as a member of the Senate and the Justice of the Peace of the City of Durham. He lived in the Divinity House, near the Cathedral, until his death in 1898. 

Ann Stuart's Mourning Ring 

1775  

Mourning rings were worn to mark the death of a person. Although we don’t know who owned this ring, we know it is in memory of Ann Stuart, who died in 1775 at age 35. The ring has an inscription which reads 'ANN STUART OBIT 1775 AGE 35' There are locks of Ann’s red hair under the stone. Parish records from the local church of St Oswald record the burial of Ann Stuart in 1775, she was a traveller from Glasgow Scotland, perhaps this ring was made in her memory.

Ellen Caldcleugh’s Name Plate 

1800s  

There used to be an ironmonger shop which made and sold items made of iron on Silver Street. It was run by a woman named Ellen Caldcleugh. After her father died when she was 15, Ellen took over the family business and cared for her seven younger siblings. the business prospered under her leadership, and continued to be family-run into the 20th century.

Ball and Chain & Electronic Tag 

Pre-1900s and 2000s 

This heavy ball and chain restrained prisoners and may have come from the nearby Northgate Prison or HMP Durham.

Modern electronic tags monitor an offender's location. These items come from different times, but were used in similar ways and both dropped, or maybe thrown, in the river.