Digging up the past with historic find (From Stroud News and Journal)

Digging up the past with historic find

AN important part of Nailsworth's history found on eBay has been returned to its rightful home after nearly 150 years.

When Pat and Stuart Griffiths were given a gift by their son-in-law, Hugh Cockwill, they were not expecting to unwrap an original silver-plated ceremonial spade used in 1864.

The spade, which is in perfect condition, was given to the Rt Hon Edward Horsman on the occasion of his turning the first sod at the Stonehouse and Nailsworth Railway on February 22.

This was a great day for Nailsworth - there was a day's holiday and an official dinner was held for 120 gentlemen at the Subscription Rooms. They tucked into every delicacy of the season and speeches were given by many well known names in Nailsworth.

The SNJ described the scene back in 1984.

"Flags, banners and evergreen devices decked the houses in profusion and by mid-day thousands of visitors had flocked into the town, making it fuller and gayer than it has perhaps ever been before", it said.

Pat, from Orchard Mead, has lived in Nailsworth for 23 years and was completely amazed when she received the valuable present.

"Hugh handed me a parcel with a wooden handle sticking out the top and a label saying 'not to be used in the garden' attached to it," she said.

"Stuart is really quite taken with it and has been showing it off to all his friends.

"The railway really made a tremendous difference to the people of Nailsworth and opened the town up."

Hugh, who lives with Pat's daughter Caroline and their nine-year-old twins in Surrey, bought the spade from a man in Ohio in the USA and had it shipped back to England.

The seller bought it from a small local antique shop in Northern Ohio from a man and pop dealer and said that it was the most unique antique he and picked up all year.

Pat and Stuart are considering lending the spade to a museum for it to be appreciated by a wider audience but say it belongs in Nailsworth.

Hugh, an IT manager, has a real love of the Cotswold town and this is not the first time he has presented Pat and Stuart with an archaic gift.

The 47-year-old also stumbled across a 1914 painting by Nailsworth artist Sophie D'ouseley Meredith on eBay which he had brought over from Brussels.