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Ancient Alms Box
box | metalwork
oak | metal
ALMS BOX
‘Amongst the detached pieces of church furniture is an ancient arms box, of mediæval workmanship. Carter's plan shows it fixed to the end of the book desk of the return stalls on the south of the rood screen. It is fashioned out of the solid, and the hollow is the upper end of an oak post. The lid is of iron, and the hinges have fleur-de-lis terminations. There are two locks, and there is the necessary slot in the lid.’ [Charles Clement Hodges and John Gibson F.C.S., Hexham and Its Abbey. 1919 p.54]
HEXAB2011
Mediæval Alms Box
Heavy, wooden box with evidence of fitting to flat surface in base. Mainly of interest for its heavy metal upper casing, lid & twin locks. Coin slot in hinged lid. Hinges fleur-de-lis plates: both sides. All smith's work. Woodwork very crude but thick – almost a hollowed beam but with repairs – hollowed back section with front crudely screwed into place. Iron casing ‘rivetted’ to wooden part. Is this just a piece of locally produced ‘older’ Gothic Revival or does it incorporate parts of an earlier item. Locks are simple but keyholes ‘L’ shaped.
early 18th cent?
earlier than Carter's c1780 plan
The Ancient Alms Box (Plate 35 – see photos). This is preserved in the vestry. It formerly stood against the end of the book-board on the south side of the rood screen, and is shewn in that position on Carter's Plan (Plate 8). The box was no doubt hollowed out of the top of an oaken post, and its present appearance warrants this supposition. [Hodges, 1888, p.47]
Often the two keys were held by different church officers so both had to be present when the box was opened and the contents counted. It remains the custom for collections to be counted by two people. [H Dixon]
H 145 | W 190 | D max. 150
Vestry
Hodges 1888 p.47 & Pl.35



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