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Guilty Conscience Returns 700-Year-Old Tiles After 60 Years
1 May
Summary
- Man returned medieval tiles stolen 60 years ago from Wenlock Priory.
- The 700-year-old tiles were kept in a toffee tin for six decades.
- The return was prompted by a guilty conscience after remembering the theft.
Seventy-year-old medieval flood tiles, taken from Wenlock Priory in Shropshire, have been returned after six decades of being kept in a toffee tin. The artifacts were souvenir-hunted by a then-nine-year-old boy and his father during a 1967 holiday, with the son now acting on a persistent guilty conscience.
The 68-year-old man, Simon White, recently rediscovered the tiles and contacted English Heritage to facilitate their return. He recalled the event vividly, mentioning his father's involvement. The tiles, preserved through numerous house moves, are locally made and featured heraldry, floral motifs, and animals.
English Heritage expressed delight at the return, noting the unusual preservation of the items. While similar tiles exist at other abbeys, their return after so long is uncommon. The organization hopes this act encourages others to return misappropriated historical items.
