World's oldest condoms set to leave UK

Ananova ^ | 10/30/03

[Pokey78]

The world's oldest condoms are to leave the UK for the first time later this week to go on show at a sex exhibition in the Netherlands.

The five contraceptives, which were excavated from a medieval toilet in Dudley Castle in 1985, are believed to date back to the mid 17th century.

A spokesman for Dudley Council, which has care of the rare items, said they would be on show in Holland from November 11 to February 8 next year.

The West Midlands borough has been asked to loan the condoms to Drents museum in the northern province of Drenthe, which is staging an exhibition entitled 100,000 Years of Sex.

Because they are so fragile, Dr Vincent Vilsteren, keeper of archaeology at the museum, is making a special visit to the UK this weekend to collect them.

Adrian Durkin, exhibitions officer at Dudley Council, said: "It is very rare for such items to survive so well. Indeed the next oldest condoms in the world are over 100 years younger and will also be on display in the exhibition."

Councillor Charles Fraser Macnamara, lead member for culture and leisure, added: "This exhibition certainly has the opportunity to put Dudley on the map. The borough is most famous for its wonderful glass heritage and more recently for being the epicentre of last year's earthquake.

"It's good to know that the earth has moved for many generations in the borough and that we can share our knowledge with the rest of the world."

The sheaths, made of animal and fish intestine, were probably dropped into the toilet in the great tower sometime prior to 1646, when the castle was surrendered to the Parliamentarians.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Dudley Castle, where the rubber meets the commode.

[Naspino]

What did Clinton know and when did he know it?

[TrebleRebel]

How big is a fish intestine?

[VRWCmember]

World's oldest condoms set to leave UK ... IN MICK JAGGER'S POCKET.

[Hodar]

The sheaths, made of animal and fish intestine, were probably dropped into the toilet in the great tower sometime prior to 1646, when the castle was surrendered to the Parliamentarians.

I wonder why? It's not as if Parliment isn't going to screw you anyway.

[Spruce]

Makes perfect sense considering this...

'I loved what I did' - Madeleine Albright has lived a bit. Now...she is ready to start dating again

[CJ Wolf]

depends on the fish.

[shadowman99]

"The five contraceptives, which were excavated from a medieval toilet in Dudley Castle...."

Every time you ever think your job sucks, just think that some archeology student or intern was made to excavate midevil toilets.

My desk doesn't seem quite so oppressive now.

[CatoRenasci]

Back when I was a lad (before AIDS and the new STDs), the most expensive and desireable condoms were made from lamb intestines. Significantly more feeling than the then available 'rubber' condoms.

[antiRepublicrat]

Now the abstinence-only crowd will take these condoms and do a "scientific" test which conclusively shows that condoms do not help in the prevention of STDs and pregnancy.

[trebb]

How big is a fish intestine?

If it's a Gay fish, the lower intestine might be pretty stretched out......Sorry...

[Migraine]

"Makes perfect sense considering this...

'I loved what I did' - Madeleine Albright has lived a bit. Now...she is ready to start dating again "

...it remains to be seen whether she can find a compatible toad.

[upchuck]

Paraphrasing...
[The] condoms are believed to date back to the mid 17th century [and] were excavated from a medieval toilet in Dudley Castle in 1985.

Three centuries. Now that, my friends, is one hell of a toilet backup! LOL

[KarlInOhio]

In days of old,
when knights were bold,
And rubbers weren't invented;
They used old socks
To cover up their *****
And babies were prevented!

[TN4Liberty]

Don't you wonder who was the first to say, "Ya know, sheep intestines might work..."

Or how they came to that conclusion.

(No pun intended)

[Pearls Before Swine]

Re your verse -- pretty funny. Almost a limerick metier, in spite of the fact that limericks have five lines instead of six.

[Deguello]

Quote from Willy Nelson:

"Know how much condoms cost in the 70's, neither do I"

[NicknamedBob]

....the clan says repair it!

[Lazamataz]

World's oldest condoms set to leave UK

Betchya they leak now.