"A birthing girdle, or scroll, was a long length of parchment inscribed with Christian prayers and charms to protect a mother and child, and often wrapped around the mother during childbirth. Particularly popular between the 12th and 16th centuries, they were suppressed during the English Reformation, and most were thought to have been destroyed. A few survive, and one of the better examples is currently on display at the Wellcome Collection in central London."
"In a dimly lit room, you can press a switch to light up the scroll, and candidly, it's not much to look at now - a long length of fabric with some very faded text and images on it. A sign says it contains an anti-semetic image, but you'd never know that by looking at it. Fortunately, it's been scanned into a digital display nearby and you can take a much closer look at the text and images,"
A birthing girdle was a long length of parchment inscribed with Christian prayers and charms intended to protect mother and child and often wrapped around the mother during childbirth. These girdles were particularly popular between the 12th and 16th centuries and were suppressed during the English Reformation, leaving most thought destroyed. A rare 500-year-old example survives and is on display at the Wellcome Collection. The scroll can be lit in a dim gallery, is digitally scanned for close viewing, and carries an antisemitic image noted on a sign. Stain analysis confirms use during childbirth. The object anchors a small exhibition on birth myths, images and protective practices, open until April 2026 and free to visit.
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