Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

I believe it is a ceremonial mace. It belonged to my great-grandfather William Henry Massey, who was born in 1885 at Gautby, near Horncastle. I think it is from the Order of the Foresters in Lincolnshire, who looked after poor people. It came with a staff but I've never seen the staff: I think woodworm must have ruined it. They held the mace in one hand and the staff in the other. The mace would probably have been made in about 1860-70. My father said his mother told him it was kept in the ceiling of their house. One day a tramp called at the house looking for food and drink. She went to get him something and when she came back he had fled. They think it was because the tramp thought the mace was a truncheon and it was a policeman's house! (Lesley Green)