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The 17th and early 18th century provide the museum’s first closely dateable artefacts, prints and books.

Items on display

The museum has few artefacts from this period, but covers the enclosure of Malvern Chase (1630s) and the English Civil War (1640s) on display boards.  The artefacts that the museum does have include a small number of 17th century coins and tokens, usually in store and a bronze bell dated 1748 which is on permanent display.

Bell dated 1748, thought to have come from the old Madresfield church and later used at Madresfield village school.
Bell dated 1748, thought to have come from the old Madresfield church and later used at Madresfield village school.

Prints and books

The museum has three invaluable, original sources from the period:

  • A copy of the Rev. Thomas’ book “Antiquitates Prioratus Malverne” of 1725, which includes the earliest drawing of the church and the first printed map specifically of the Malvern area.
  • A copy of the Buck brothers’ engraving of the gatehouse, dated 1731 (print) titled “North view of Great Malvern Abby” (sic).
  • A copy of a sketch of the south side of Great Malvern priory gatehouse “from Mr. Savage’s orchard” dated 1745.

The museum also displays a copy of the 1633 map showing the planned enclosure of Malvern Chase (original at the Worcester Hive in the Berrington Archives).

The earliest printed map of the Malvern area, and the earliest view of the rear of the gatehouse.
The earliest printed map of the Malvern area, and the earliest view of the rear of the gatehouse.