Chance to see 500-year-old royal seal in Shufenhall (that's Shifnal)
[gallery] A 500-year-old piece of a county town's history is going on brief display this week – before it is locked away in the county archives for safekeeping.
The document, signed by King Edward VI in 1553, months before his death at the age of 15, gave permission for a priest to say Mass in the village of Shufenhall – which is now Shifnal.
The permit was written in Latin on a piece of vellum – calfskin – and features two images of the young king, the only legitimate son of Henry VIII, as well as his seal.
It was bought by the Shifnal History Group at auction in London last month for £1,900 with funds from Shifnal Town Council.
But it is so precious that it will be kept in the Shropshire Council Archives, while a copy will be made for display in the town.
Before that happens townsfolk have two days to see the original, which will be on show in Shifnal's Old Fire Station this Friday and Saturday.
David Carey, a member of the history group, said it had answered a number of questions about the way the town's name had changed over the centuries.
"We've read Shuffenhall, we know it was called Shuffenhall but it is fantastic to see it physically written down," he said.
The Old Fire Station will be open for people to view the document from 2pm to 4pm on Friday and from 10am to 12pm on Saturday.
