This fife and its case were produced in the early 19th century. The case was decorated for the 7th Company, Wirksworth Local Militia, it features a crowned five-petal rose. Fifes were used for signalling within the military but were gradually phased out by the 1880s due to changes in warfare. Fifes were used alongside drums for military marching bands and parades.

Over cleaning and major interventions were avoided to preserve the aged appearance of the object.

The fife was produced in London by Goulding & co. between 1796-1823. The fife body was formed by lathe turning boxwood using carving tools. The finger holes were likely made by drilling, then bored to enlarge them and finally reamed to finish the holes. The brass ferrules were formed through deep drawn metal stamping and then inserted over the ends of the fife and hammered into place.

The fife case was formed from sheet metal; heated and bent into shape. The joining seams are at the back of the case and lid. The internal separators were soldered (tin/lead alloy) into the case. The areas for the ring holds were stamped out and metal wire was shaped to form the rings. The design was either hand painted or screen printed onto the metal.

From the Sherwood Foresters Museum collection, now part of the Museum of the Mercian Regiment.