Pick of the week: Gruesome way to jog your memory

In the Late Middle Ages the chaplet, made in many materials from boxwood to precious metals, was a commonplace aid to keep count of the repetition of prayers or the chapters read in a Book of Hours.

Often hung from the belt by a ring, this short string of devotional beads consisted of 10 small be…

Enjoy unlimited access: just £1 for 12 weeks

Subscribe now