Side drum, used by Stamford Local Militia and associated with Lord John Brownlow (alias John Cust, Colonel of the Regiment), 1810-1816

Shell painted with owner’s arms.

Local Militia units were raised following an Act of 1808 and were designed to create a trained body of men, who could be used for local defence, but who could also be encouraged to transfer to the regular Army in return for a financial incentive, or bounty. The scheme was very successful and helped solve the manpower shortage during the Napoleonic Wars. The Local Militia were all disbanded in 1814.