PREVIEW: BRITISH TRADE TOKENS, TICKETS AND PASSES: 8 OCTOBER

A collection of 19th century Inn Tokens from Worcester, presented in this sale as a single lot, offers a very rare opportunity to acquire a fascinating historical record of a brief period of this Midlands city.

Consigned from the Worcestershire Tokens from the Collection of the late John Whitmore, the majority of the tokens in the lot are extremely rare and show just how many hostelries vied for custom in the city, as well as which districts they came from.

 

They include a brass Threepence for the Forester’s Arms of Arboretum to the north of the city centre; brass Threepence by Pope for the Barbourne Brewery to the north west; and the Sandpits Inn in the Bromyard Road.

Other inns listed include The Grosvenor Arms of Henwick, the Bull’s Head in the High Street, the Mug House Inn in the Hylton Road, the Duke of York Inn in Angel Street, and the Park Tavern in the London Road.

The Alma Inn of Lowesmoor, Reindeer Hotel of Melcheapen Street, the Pheasant Inn of New Street and the Angel Inn of St John's also feature, as do the Bush Inn, the Dog & Duck of St Nicholas Street, and the Golden Heart Inn of Sansome Street.

“This is the best such group ever to appear at public auction, the majority of tokens very rare,” said Peter Preston-Morley, Noonans' Special Projects Director.

The estimate is £500-700.