BROLLY: The museum's retail visitor assistant Maria Smith with York’s first umbrella dated 1837 at the Castle Museum.Pic Nigel Holland.
IT is only a humble brolly - but it has its place in history.
An umbrella which is believed to have been the first ever to arrive in York will go on show this weekend to mark the 80th anniversary of city's famous Castle Museum.
It was given to the Sheriff of York, William Lockwood, in 1837 and donated to the then new museum in 1939.
Collections facilitator Rob Wake said: "You can imagine William Lockwood walking through the centre of York in the April showers, sheltering from the rain while others look on, slightly bemused by the strange sight."
The brolly has a bone handle shaped into a serpent’s head with a frame of whalebone ribs tipped with brass.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here