Wainfleet Halfpenny D&H8c

The obverse features a free literacy school and a circular legend: "FOUNDED BY WILLIAM WAYNEFLETE" (old spelling) "1459".

Wainfleet Magdalen College School postcard

The reverse side depicts an image representing Hope with an anchor on the left side and a raised right hand. In the background is a bale of goods and a sailboat at sea. Circle legend: "WAINFLEET HALFPENNY 1793"

The customers for the production of the token were warehouse owners David Wright and Palmer (D. Wright & S. Palmer).

William Waynflete (c1398-1486). Modern copy of contemporary portrait in Hall of New College, Oxford

In 1483, William Patten, also known as Barbour, later William Wainfleet, Provost of Eton, Bishop of Winchester, Supreme Chancellor of Great Britain during the reign of Henry VI, founded a free literacy school in his hometown, serving as a branch of Magdalen College at Oxord, which he had founded earlier in 1459. At the time of the token's release, this beautiful brick building with two towers was used as a church on Sundays and is sometimes referred to as Wainfleet Abbey, although it was not originally intended as a place of worship.

Variants of edge inscriptions:

7. BIRMINGHAM REDRUTH & SWANSEA.
8. PAYABLE AT THE WAREHOUSE OF D. WRIGHT & S. PALMER . X .
8a. reads WAREHOUSES.
8b. PAYABLE IN HULL AND IN LONDON.
8c. PAYABLE IN LONDON BRISTOL & LANCASTER.
8d. ON DEMAND WE PROMISE TO PAY.
8e. CURRENT EVERYWHERE.
8f. Plain.