Jennifer Thomson
“These ceremonial objects are shrouded in mystery. What we do know is that they are 17 clubs on long wooden poles, 11 of which have carved heads – some human, some animal and one that’s defi nitely a demon of some kind. Five have weapons that are typical of the late medieval period and many have decorative patterns.
No one knows how old they really are but the earliest recorded reference comes from the Walsall mayor’s accounts of 1670 when 7/6d was paid to clubmen for carrying them in procession at the opening of the town’s twice-yearly fair. A couple have dates carved in them – 1712 and 1714 – but these probably refer to occasions when they were repaired.
In the 1870s, carrying the Colts around the town was discontinued and they were covered in black paint and consigned to the wall of the magistrates’ court in the Guildhall. For a long time, the Colts were forgotten about.
The only people who saw them were the folk who had to appear in court for one reason or another so they probably weren’t in the best frame of mind to admire ancient artefacts.
In 1969, however, two Colts fell from the wall and were found to be infested with woodworm. Suddenly, people realised that these objects had considerable local importance and were not being properly cared for so they were transferred to the museum for conservation. That’s roughly what we know for sure.
However, a Star Chamber document from 1524 contains an account of a dispute between Robert Acton, who was the lord of the manor of Walsall, and the town mayor, Richard Hopkins.
Two men were accused of cutting down trees in m’lud’s park and killing his deer but the mayor stepped in and said Acton had no jurisdiction over them, threatening him with ringing “Bayard’s bell, summoning Bayard and his thousand colts”.
Is there a connection to these objects? We’re not sure but the Colts obviously have a long association with the town.
So much so, in fact, that the civic society – in partnership with the museum and local council – have inaugurated a project around the Colts, creating a cycle of new community plays and events to celebrate them and their history.
The project will also involve new research into their origins and the creation of a set of modern-day Colts that can once again be carried on civic processions as the originals are too old and vulnerable to play a part.
People outside Walsall can have a slightly negative view of a town that has suffered over the years but local people are really proud of these objects, and looking after such treasures for present and future generations is what museums like ours are all about.”
Jennifer Thomson is Community history curator at Walsall Museum
“These ceremonial objects are shrouded in mystery. What we do know is that they are 17 clubs on long wooden poles, 11 of which have carved heads – some human, some animal and one that’s defi nitely a demon of some kind. Five have weapons that are typical of the late medieval period and many have decorative patterns.
No one knows how old they really are but the earliest recorded reference comes from the Walsall mayor’s accounts of 1670 when 7/6d was paid to clubmen for carrying them in procession at the opening of the town’s twice-yearly fair. A couple have dates carved in them – 1712 and 1714 – but these probably refer to occasions when they were repaired.
In the 1870s, carrying the Colts around the town was discontinued and they were covered in black paint and consigned to the wall of the magistrates’ court in the Guildhall. For a long time, the Colts were forgotten about.
The only people who saw them were the folk who had to appear in court for one reason or another so they probably weren’t in the best frame of mind to admire ancient artefacts.
In 1969, however, two Colts fell from the wall and were found to be infested with woodworm. Suddenly, people realised that these objects had considerable local importance and were not being properly cared for so they were transferred to the museum for conservation. That’s roughly what we know for sure.
However, a Star Chamber document from 1524 contains an account of a dispute between Robert Acton, who was the lord of the manor of Walsall, and the town mayor, Richard Hopkins.
Two men were accused of cutting down trees in m’lud’s park and killing his deer but the mayor stepped in and said Acton had no jurisdiction over them, threatening him with ringing “Bayard’s bell, summoning Bayard and his thousand colts”.
Is there a connection to these objects? We’re not sure but the Colts obviously have a long association with the town.
So much so, in fact, that the civic society – in partnership with the museum and local council – have inaugurated a project around the Colts, creating a cycle of new community plays and events to celebrate them and their history.
The project will also involve new research into their origins and the creation of a set of modern-day Colts that can once again be carried on civic processions as the originals are too old and vulnerable to play a part.
People outside Walsall can have a slightly negative view of a town that has suffered over the years but local people are really proud of these objects, and looking after such treasures for present and future generations is what museums like ours are all about.”
Jennifer Thomson is Community history curator at Walsall Museum
