A sedan chair, which had been in the Newman family for around 150 years, was donated to Dartmouth Museum and received restoration at the hands of an Egyptologist. At the start of the 19th Century, the Newmans were an important local family. They traded across the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean, bringing much wealth to the town. The Newmans owned the sedan chair. It remained with them throughout one and half centuries with a brief break of 5 years in the 1930s.

Sir Geoffrey Newman has now given it to Dartmouth Museum. For many decades, the Newman family lived in South Town House in Dartmouth and two ‘chairmen’ could have carried their passenger to and from this home.

The sedan chair has suffered surprisingly little damage over the many decades but still required restoration. It was taken for conservation by Richard Jaeschke of Taunton last August.

Richard, an American citizen, born in Milwaukee Wisconsin, first came to the UK about 40 years ago to study. His interest was Eygptian objects. He commented: “A lot of ancient Egyptian objects are of the same composition as the sedan chair. The work was within my specialty. It took six months of intensive work to turn what was a functional object into a museum artifact.”

The extensive and very specialised work was made possible by a magnificent donation from Michael Brenchley in memory of his late wife Christine who had been Dartmouth Museum’s Education Officer but sadly died last year. This was complemented by a grant from ‘Invest in Devon’ arranged by Councillor Jonathan Hawkins.

The sedan chair arrived at the Guildhall on Thursday morning, July 6th. There to receive it, were the Mayor of Dartmouth, Cllr Richard Cooke, who was accompanied by Sir Geoffrey Newman and its benefactor, Michael Brenchley. They were assisted by members of the Dartmouth Players, Linda Churchill, dressed as a 19th Century Lady, and by two suitably attired chairmen, Bill Hunt and Fred Radcliffe, also Dartmouth Players. Lez Ellis, Dartmouth Town Crier, and his wife Liz, together with Ron Lambden, Town Sergeant bearing the Mace, completed the entourage.

The sedan chair made a stately journey down Victoria Road, across into Royal Avenue Gardens and around the Boatfloat on the way to the back of the Museum, The parade was very much to the enjoyment of tourists who took numerous snaps in competition with three cameramen from various organizations.

The sedan chair will be housed in the Holdsworth Room in the Museum.