The Pilgrim Collection

To undertake a pilgrimage was a common and popular medieval pastime. Rich and poor alike travelled to shrines throughout Europe in search of spiritual advancement. To earn extra revenue from these travellers, shrines began producing small leaden badges to be sold to the pilgrims as mementoes of their sometimes arduous journey.

Casts from the Past offer a range of badges and jewellery inspired by these early souvenirs. Reproduced in lead free pewter, they offer a tangible link with our rich and varied past.

1. St.Thomas Becket
Until the late 15th century Canterbury, the place of Thomas Becket’s martyrdom in 1170, was by far the most popular centre of English pilgrimage. This badge depicts the reliquary of St.Thomas in the form of a mitred bust. Dated to 1450.
St. Thomas badge, boxed with history. 43mm x 20mm

2. St Alban
Alban was a Roman legionary, who was converted to Christianity and was martyred when he refused to renounce his new faith. This particular badge is based on a fifteenth century example now in the Salisbury Museum in Wiltshire.
St Alban badge, boxed with history. 53mm x 33mm

3. Maria Monogram (Our Lady of Paris)
A fifteenth century badge associated with Notre Dame in France. The original to be found in The Cluny Museum in Paris.
Maria Monogram badge, boxed with history. 33mm x 37mm

4. Knights Gate
One of the sights of Walsingham, in Norfolk, was the Abbey postern gate, the scene of a miracle attributed to Our Lady. In spite of barriers at the gate a knight on horseback was miraculously transported through the arch out of his enemies clutches. Dated to approximately 1400.
Knights Gate badge, boxed with history. 52mm

5. Le Puy
Le Puy en Velay in the Auvergne region of France has long been a centre of European pilgrimage and it was here in the spring of 1096 that people flocked to join the first crusade. Famous for its statue of the Black Madonna, Le Puy still attracts many thousands of pilgrims annually.
Le Buy badge, boxed with history. 58mm c 33mm

6. Bromholme
This badge is attributed to Bromholme Prior in Norfolk, a very important pilgrim site in the early 13th Century when it ‘acquired’ a relic of the True Cross, and became famous for performing miracles, ‘restoring the dead, curing the blind and making the lame to walk’.

7. Statue of Our Lady
It was this miracle statue of Our Lady that transformed Little Walsingham from an unknown village to a shrine of international renown. This badge is dated to approximately 1400.

8. Walsingham Annunciation
The annunciation of Our Lady was by far the most popular scene depicted on Walsingham pilgrim badges. Our badge, date to the 15th century, depicts the Virgin and Archangel Gabriel within a six pointed star, based on an original now in the Norfolk Museum Services.
Annunciation badge, cold enamelled, blue, boxed with history. 25mm

9. St. Audrey (Etheldreda)
St Audrey daughter to an Anglo-Saxon King of East Anglia, gained a reputation for piety and good works, also founded the convent of Ely. This badge depicts her as an Abbess and is based on a later 14th century example.
St Audrey badge, boxed with history. 54mm x 36mm

10. Scallop Shell
The scallop shell, emblem of St James, was generally adopted as a symbol of pilgrimage throughout the Middle Ages. This particular badge is associated with Our Lady of the Undercroft at Canterbury whose symbol the fleur de lys, is shown on the front.
Scallop shell badge, boxed with history. 36mm x 36mm

11. St Edmund
St Edmund, last King of East Anglia, became a popular subject of veneration after his martyrdom by an invading army of Danes. Badges such as this were produced at Bury St Edmunds, the place of his burial, to be sold to the many pilgrims who flocked to the shrine. This badge is based on a later medieval design.
St Edmund badge, boxed with history. 60mm x 30mm

12. Broad Arrow
Walsingham annunciation badge mounted on the shaft of an arrow, and copied from an original mould now in the keeping of the Norfolk Museum Services. Although a popular motif, the arrows significance remains a mystery.
Broad Arrow badge, cold enamelled, blue, boxed with history. 60mm x 25mm

13. St Catherine’s Wheel
Traditionally, Catherine was a highborn maiden of Alexandria who was tortured after defying the authorities regarding her Christian faith. She was tortured upon a spiked wheel before being beheaded along with those she converted. Largely remembered today for the firework named after her, she was a popular medieval saint. Based on a 14th century original.
St Catherine Wheel badge, cold enamelled in various colours, boxed with history. 45mm

14. St George
St George only became generally accepted as the patron saint of England as late as the 15th century when he was adopted as the personal saint of Henry V. Patron of the ‘Order of the Garter’ St George has always been a popular saint with soldiers, and his chapel at Windsor was visited by many.
St George badge, cold enamelled, boxed with history. 46mm x 31mm

15. Eagle of St John
St John, apostle and disciple, was the brother of St James and was especially revered within western Europe. His symbol of the eagle was both used as a token of the saints power and as a common decorative heraldic symbol.
St John badge, boxed with history. 35mm x 43 mm

16. St Thomas – Sword & Buckler
This badge is attributed to Thomas Becket and was probably a memento of the weapon with which Becket was martyred. It would originally have had clips on the back to hold a coloured backing as had a lot of Pilgrim badges from that time.
St Thomas – Sword & Buckler badge, boxed with history. 83mm

17. Fleur-de-Lys
This badge based on an original, is the heraldic form of the lily flower known as fleur-de-lys. The fleur-de-lys was used throughout the Middle Ages as a symbol of ‘Our Lady’ and it is possible that this badge is a pilgrim souvenir from a shrine dedicated to her worship. Such shrines were located throughout England at places such as Walsingham, Doncaster, Ipswich, Salisbury and Eton.
Fleur-de-Lys badge, boxed with history. 41mm x 26mm

18. Crowned ‘A’
The Prioress in Chaucer;s Canterbury Tales wore such a badge as this. The original, of lead, depicting the Crowned’A’ signifies ‘Amor Vincit Omnia’ (love conquers all) and dated to the 14th Century.
Crowned ‘A’ badge, boxed with history

19. Canterbury Bell
The Canterbury bell mentioned by Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales appear to have been worn by pilgrims as an audible warning of their approach. The original hollow cast bells would be fitted with a small clapper and were inscribed with variations of ‘Campana Thomas’ (the bell of Thomas).
Canterbury Bell, boxed with history.

20. Maria Monogram
15th century
Maria Monogram, Boxed with history

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