Hat’s amazing – floor finds bring history to life
Who is CV Smith? That’s the question being asked by historical sleuths in Medway after the renovation of the university’s sports hall threw up some fascinating artefacts.
As the old sports hall floor was hauled up to make way for a new springy wooden one, a number of old objects were discovered, caked in muck and dust.
Chief among them was a sailor’s hat, with the name CV Smith inside. The assumption was that this was a man’s hat but Engineering Professor and all-round “Mr Medway” Alan Reed disagrees.
He says: “I think it could be a Wren’s hat, or that of a boy sailor, because it’s not got a big enough brim for a man. Also that CV Smith could be the name of the manufacturer but at this stage we can’t say.”
Meanwhile the experts at the Chatham Dockyard Historical Society have been examining the hat and they are almost certain that it dates back to the 1920s or 1930s.
Ben Watson, Academic Support Librarian, and part-time historical sleuth, has also been doing some digging. He adds: “With a little time we can hopefully uncover more about his (or her) past. It’s the human element that people respond to, that’s what elevates these items from being artefacts to a real story. The problem we face is Smith is a common name but having the initials CV could help narrow the search.”
Also found among the muck was some tinned crab and a tin of pipe tobacco. All will soon be on display in the Drill Hall.
Of the tinned goods, Professor Reed adds: “Back then there was a wet canteen – where you got your cooked meal – and a dry canteen. The dry one, pictured here, is where you’d buy your tinned goods and what have you to take back to your digs and cook there.”
Ends
Caption: Facilities Manager Richard Cottam examines the finds from under the sports hall floor
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University of Greenwich
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