DICK WHITTINGTON'S CAT

DICK WHITTINGTON'S CAT,
a mummified cat, possibly medieval, in better times the cat is believed to have belonged to Dick Whittington, mounted in a wooden case together with a mummified rat,
case 64cm wide
44cm high

It is believed that this macabre survivor was found in 1949, when an unsuccessful attempt was made to find the tomb of the real Dick Whittington (Richard 'Dick' Whittington 1353-1423). The three-times Mayor of London is known to have been buried at St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill, although the old church was destroyed during the Great Fire of 1666 and rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren.

Naturally mummified cats were a common feature of medieval buildings; they were incorporated in the foundations of a building to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck to the inhabitants. This example, that may indeed be from Whittington's time, was on display at the Whittington and Cat public house on Highgate Hill, London - and featured in the television programme 'Living Legends', with the great Magnus Magnusson, in 1979 - before it was given to the vendor by the landlord.

Richard Whittington's fame in his lifetime (and the fortune he left to charity), made him well known, and his story was much embellished, being adapted for the stage as early as 1604. By the 19th century, this had become popular as a pantomime, which tells how Dick, a boy from a poor Gloucestershire family, sets out for London accompanied by his cat. At first, he meets with little success, and is tempted to return home. However, as he leaves the City, he hears the Bow Bells ringing and believes they are sending him a message to turn around and seek his fortune.