Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society 20

The wooden artefact known as the Chester Hand or Glove was part of a private collection gifted to the Corporation of Liverpool in 1867. The Hand bears an inscription dated 1159 but perhaps dates to the 16th or 17th century, representing the renewal of an earlier object. The symbolic meaning of hands or gloves more generally is discussed, before a documentary reference from a Chester assembly book of 1687 is quoted. This records the decision that a glove was to be hung out to give notice of an approaching fair. Some 19th century references to the hanging out of a glove in Chester are also quoted, followed by references to hands or gloves of the same kind from other towns in England. LD