A CHEST dating back centuries has been restored and is now on display at a free exhibition in Worcester.

The Habington Chest belonged to Thomas Habington, arguably one of Worcestershire's rebels as he was a member of a staunch Catholic family from Hindlip Hall near Worcester, involved in two of the most famous plots - the Babington Plot of 1586 and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

For the first he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for six years, for the second he was condemned to death.

After his sentence was reduced, and through help from the influence of his brother-in-law, Lord Monteagle, he went on to study for 40 years, parish by parish, the history of the county up to the opening of Elizabeth's reign.

Considered by some to be Worcestershire's first historian it is likely his books and papers were stored within the chest that bears his initials and the date, 1605, in Roman numerals.

With support from the Kay Trust, the chest was restored and parts of it dated back to the 16th century, to a tree that was felled.

Thomas also wrote in a letter, during the civil war, that he had buried the chest in the woods at Hindlip Hall to protect the contents from soldiers.

In 1814 the hall was demolished and the chest was rescued by Dr Peter Prattinton of Bewdley, and eventually passed to Worcestershire Archaeological Society.

As it is now fully restored, the chest has been put on display at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum as part of the Divided Loyalties exhibition.

The exhibition runs until October, open Monday to Saturday, between 10.30am and 4.30pm.

Entry is free. For more details visit museumsworcestershire.org.uk.