Silver Alms Badge, 1687

Arm badges became a popular accessory of office in 17th-century England and remained so throughout the 18th century. (See e.g. the Admiralty Barge Badges, one of which from 1736/7 is held by the Victoria & Albert Museum: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O103519/badge-for-the-coxswain-of-badge-lukin-william/)

Archbishop Robert Holgate’s will, dated April 1555, allocated an endowment for the establishment of a “hospital” in Hemsworth including 18 cottages for the poor. Ten men, ten women, and a master were to be accommodated. The poor residents had a curfew of 7pm in the winter and 9:30pm in the summer. They were prohibited from the local ale house. “Swearers” and “drunkards” and “brawlers” could be kicked out.

Some of the early masters of the hospital are recorded, including James Wood in 1663-64 and William Wood in 1684. The initials R.W. engraved on this badge suggest the possibility that another Wood (Robert?) succeeded William as master.