What a plank

I have looked at this piece of wood in Horsham Museum on many an occasion and wondered what its backstory was. The only thing I knew for sure was that the carved initials and date were for an inmate of the old  Sussex  County gaol which used to be in Horsham (it was later demolished). Jean Baptiste,  from Italy, was committed on 13th September 1764. She had apparently stolen a parcel of snake-root, rhubarb, cochineal and gentian root from the owners who were Elizabeth Roberts and May King. I'm relieved to report that she was discharged on 25th March 1765 having been declared legally innocent. The plank itself is part of one of the gaol's oak floorboards.

Hope you all have a cracking weekend.

Arilx