Spalding Gentlemen’s Society invites readers to suggest what mystery item from the archives was for

Welcome to the first of a year-long monthly series to test your knowledge... or your imagination.

Each month Spalding Gentlemen’s Society will look deep into its collection of curiosities to challenge you to tell us what you think the featured item is and what it might be used for.

Here’s the first curiosity to be identified.

The first correct answer out of the hat will win a pair of tickets to any of the Society’s forthcoming lectures. The current programme and details can be found at www.sgsoc.org/lecture-season-january-to-march

Email your answer to outreach@sgsoc.org by the closing date of Tuesday, January 23.

The answer and next month’s object from Spalding Gentlemen’s Society Cabinet of Curiosities will be published on Tuesday, February 13.

Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, one of the oldest learned societies, was founded in 1710 by Maurice Johnson, “The Antiquary”, of Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding.

Notable members have included Sir Isaac Newton, Dr William Stukeley, Alexander Pope, Sir Joseph Banks and Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

The museum in Broad Street, Spalding, is open to all from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Entry is free.

Inside is a cornucopia of items to inform, educate and amuse - of local, national and international interest. Also visit for free the new “SGS” room at Ayscoughfee Hall for the Collections Reimagined exhibition until the end of January, Wednesdays to Sundays, 10.30am to 4pm.