• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About The London Economic
  • Advertise
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Must Reads

Parchment in Sussex archive is one of only two original copies – of the Declaration of Independence

The engrossed parchment manuscript is the best-preserved example of the historic document, after scientists at Harvard University confirmed it was the real deal.

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
July 5, 2018
in Must Reads, Weird News

Academics have confirmed a dusty old parchment found in a Sussex archive is one of only two original copies – of the Declaration of Independence.

The engrossed parchment manuscript is the best-preserved example of the historic document, after scientists at Harvard University confirmed it was the real deal.

It was uncovered in an archive in Chichester, West Sussex, last year, and is one of two ceremonial parchment copies in the world.

The manuscript was tested and validated by Harvard researchers just ahead of the 242nd American Independence Day celebrations.

Now known as the Sussex Declaration, the exquisite piece of history is believed to be produced in the 1780s and researchers are still baffled as to how it arrived at the West Sussex Records Office.

The document is a contemporary manuscript copy of the historic declaration which announced the independence of thirteen American colonies during the American Revolutionary War, adopted in Philadelphia in 1776.

RelatedPosts

Watch – NHS carer’s remote island home means she has perhaps UK’s trickiest commute

Healthcare assistant dies with Covid after giving birth to fourth child

Swap ‘vomit of naff red and pink hearts’ on Valentine’s Day for NHS donations

American’s thread about strange British traits goes viral but do you agree

It is rumoured to have been brought to England by signatory James Wilson, but it is not yet clear.

Louise Goldsmith, leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “This is such terrific news about the Sussex Declaration.

“We have all been waiting to hear what the experts have been able to discover for us and now we know.

“Our records office holds many fascinating treasures but this treasure of a document is very, very special indeed.

“We very much welcome this interest in the West Sussex archives and the work of the record office, which acts as the custodian for thousands of documents with a West Sussex link stretching back to 780.

“It is an exquisite piece of history which must have been painstakingly written not under modern light but by daylight and candlelight using a quill and ink.”

Scientists used a number of detailed tests to analyse the document including X-ray fluorescence and DNA testing, and revealed an erased date which read either ‘July 4, 178’ or ‘July 4, 179.’

There may have originally been a fourth digit in the year and analysis of the ink shows that the lettering and its final corrections were all written within a short space of time.

The American parchment is most likely to have been produced in New York or Philadelphia in the 1780s and researchers are still trying to find out how it arrived in the UK.

West Sussex County Archivist Wendy Walker said: “We are extremely excited to hear that Harvard’s research and the scientific analyses confirm the historical significance and importance of this archive.

“It is a fascinating document and it has been fantastic for us to work with colleagues at Harvard, the Library of Congress, the British Library and the University of York to find out more about the story that surrounds it.”

The Sussex Declaration is not going to be sold any time soon, but the council have no idea as to its value.

 

Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

Stress, fear and homelessness: The threat looming over families confronted with eviction

File photo dated 07/11/03 of a prison cell.

The Other Prison Pandemic

Latest from TLE

Covid crisis has made UK look “dysfunctional” – Brown

Leave campaign made Brexit a “new religion” to win votes – University report finds

Johnson to launch ‘buy British fish’ campaign to help offset Post-Brexit disruption

Johnson tells how midlife crisis drove him into politics

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About The London Economic
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.