The South Somerset Heritage Collection's (SSHC) 'gloving donkey' was the featured "mystery item" on the latest episode of BBC's Bargain Hunt, filmed at the Bath & West Showground Antiques and Collectors Fair in Shepton in November 2022.

Joseph Lewis, Heritage Coordinator at Somerset Council, presented the item to the show's host, Charlie Ross, who introduced it to visitors, asking them to guess what it was and its purpose. The gloving donkey, invented in 1807, is a device with clamps and brass teeth that hold the fabric of a glove together, making it easier for sewers to work.

The SSHC, which is a part of Somerset Council, is based in Yeovil, a town that has been home to the glove-making industry since the 14th century. In the 1950s, the town produced 50% of England's leather gloves. The SSHC archive has over 30,000 objects and 6,000 photographs, reflecting the heritage of Yeovil and South Somerset, including costumes and textiles, gloves and gloving, fine art, industrial items, archaeology, ceramics and glassware, and coins and medals.

Councillor Peter Seib, Ward Member for Brympton, where the SSHC is located, said, "It demonstrates that our collection is of significant local and national interest."

Preservation of Somerset's heritage is a key priority for the Council, which considers heritage an essential part of its corporate plan.

Interested viewers can catch the latest episode of Bargain Hunt, which aired on Monday, 1 May 2023, on BBC iPlayer.