Author Description

The many artefacts discovered by members of the public and recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) provide an unparalleled resource for information relating to childhood in the past. The fifty objects presented here have been selected from across England and Wales; they span prehistory through to the modern age and include items both of national significance and those of everyday use. This unique and diverse collection by the PAS illustrates a variety of beliefs around childhood, including activities relating to childbirth, infant care, clothing, work and play. Each object, whether made for children or adapted by them, has been chosen to explore past expectations towards children and their relationships with the wider world. Collectively, these artefacts provide an insight into, and a connection with, childhood across the ages, much of which still has relevance today.