Volunteer discovers 18th-century beggar’s badge
Colin Mackenzie, one of our volunteers at Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage & Museum, noticed whilst examining the museum’s collection of communion tokens that one stood out amongst the rest. After some research, Colin discovered the mysterious object was not a communion token but was in fact an 18th-century beggar’s badge.
Colin explained: ‘Beggars’ badges were introduced in the early 1400s in Britain as physical markers to identify beggars and permit their movement between areas. The implementation of Poor Laws marked a significant step in systematically addressing poverty. In both England and Scotland, the early Poor Laws established basic provisions for those in destitution.’
Colin also made another discovery with the object. The badge is labelled ‘NIGG’, and for a long time it was assumed this referred to Nigg in Easter Ross, just across the firth from Cromarty. However, Colin found through his research that this badge was not local but instead was made for Nigg in Aberdeenshire, over 80 miles away.
‘It is likely the confusion over Nigg led to the badge being added to our collection’, said museum assistant James Ryan. ‘But despite that, this discovery has actually made it a more fitting object for our museum. Hugh Miller was a champion of the common man, and through this historic badge we now have a much stronger way of telling the social justice campaigning side to Miller’s story.’
James added that this scenario demonstrates why volunteers at the museum are so important. ‘Neither myself nor my manager admittedly are experts on this aspect of Scottish history. If it wasn’t for our talented group of dedicated volunteers like Colin, we wouldn’t be able to tell half the stories we have in our collections!’
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