Once upon a time in the 1400s, clay tiles were being made that would later be used to construct the roof of the King’s House in Salisbury.
By the time the tiles reached the building site, one of them had a curious imperfection - the paw print of a dog that had apparently trodden on the tile while the clay was still wet.
The tile was used nevertheless, paw print and all, and then forgotten about for more than 500 years.
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Today, the King’s House is the home of the Salisbury Museum, which has been undergoing a major renovation project.
After hiding in plain site for centuries, the 15th Century pegged medieval tile was discovered during ongoing building works.
The museum has now decided to display the artefact alongside its prized possession of a 700-year-old chess piece discovered on Ivy Street by the superintendent of drainage works in 1846, as Salisbury’s old open sewer system was being modernised.
The Museum has launched a Summer Story Challenge for all ages from Wednesday, July 26 to Sunday, September 3, inviting members of the public to use clues and try their best at explaining the back stories of the museum’s items, including the paw-printed tile.
See more: Salisbury Journal archives on display at Salisbury Museum
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