A dower chest
is a chest in which a bride’s father conveys the marriage dowry for his daughter to the groom.
This dower chest is thought to be English, of the 14th century (and thus older than the college).
In the design visible on the front of the chest: on the left side can be seen the groom, in a floppy hat, holding out a ring; and on the right side can be seen the bride, offering in return her heart.
This chest is thought to have been discovered in the attics of the Long Gallery during the restoration work of 1912. It is displayed in a glass cabinet along with some ancient leather shoes which were discovered at the same time.
It is not known how the chest came into the possession of the college, and nothing is known of the chest’s history.