Viagra among items left behind at National Trust properties
Membership is drawn from some of the finest, most upstanding sections of the community.
But the items lost by National Trust members during their respectful and whispering tours of some of the most beautiful houses and gardens in the land have raised a few eyebrows.
Amid the day to day lost property of hats, gloves, glasses and car keys there are lurking one or two surprises.
An audit of lost property in East Anglian properties included the discovery of a box of the famous blue diamond shaped drug Viagra – at the trust’s jewel in the crown Jacobean house Blickling Hall. Trust bosses have not revealed whether or not the Viagra was reclaimed.
Confused house managers also found a ninja turtle at Oxburgh Hall near King’s Lynn, no doubt attracted by the famous moat; a set of false teeth at the 16th century timber framed Lavenham Guildhall near Sudbury; and a baby’s buggy at Felbrigg Hall, which was never claimed.
Still unusual but perhaps slightly less surprising was a pair of swimming trunks at coastal beauty spot Dunwich Heath near Saxmundham; a book called ‘An International Murderers Who’s Who’ at Ickworth House; and a seat from a mobility scooter at Flatford Bridge Cottage near East Bergholt.
And while it was no great surprise to find a number of shoes, not all of them were pairs, prompting some questions about National Trust members hopping home.
Few however were shocked at the discovery of numerous squeaky balls for dogs at Sheringham Park.
“At some time or other we have all lost something on a day out with friends and family, but when the National Trust recently looked in its lost property boxes, it was surprised to find some rather unusual items left behind after the 2007 season,” said Trust spokesman Jemma Finch.
“There were all the things I suppose you would expect like glasses, gloves and hats, plus numerous mobile phones, dozens of buttons and an endless supply of walking sticks.
“As well as the more common items that you would associate with being found in lost property, there have also been the more unusual, including a packet of Viagra tablets at Blickling Hall and a baby’s buggy at Felbrigg Hall, thankfully without the baby.
“Previous years once saw a diamond engagement ring left behind in the ladies toilet at Lavenham Guildhall. It was eventually claimed by a woman from Australia, who had spent four days retracing her steps around Suffolk.
“Like at the Guildhall, many of the items are later reunited with their owners. So, next time you visit a National Trust property, make sure you have everything with you before you leave!”
Fiona Lilley, who helped put together the Felbrigg Hall information, said they found quite a lot of items every year.
“We get a lot of keys, picnic blankets, bus passes, hats, gloves and scarves, that kind of thing, but occasionally there is the unusual as well.
“We found a fold up baby’s buggy once, which was never claimed but at the end of the required period of keeping it, we gave it to a charity shop.
“Glasses are taken to a local optician if they are not claimed in time, which is nice because they go on to third world countries. We can’t keep stuff forever, but we try to throw away as little as possible. If it is in good condition it will be put to a good use such as a charity shop.”
The survey took in eleven properties in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
The ten most common finds were far less surprising than false teeth or sex drugs.
Among the hundreds of items found were:
- 81 pairs of glasses
- 68 gloves
- 65 hats
- 51 items of clothing
- 43 items of jewellery
- 36 umbrellas
- 28 bunches of keys
- 17 cameras
- 13 scarves
- 7 shoes (not all pairs)
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