A cotton bellrope decorated with square knotting over blue wool fabric at each end. It is also worked with Turk's heads, hitching and a star knot. The knots are highlighted with red and blue thread. The eye is ring bolt hitched. Bequeathed by Vice-Admiral M. H. A. Kelsey in 1964 as 'My decorative Naval Bell Rope which is a particularly fine example of an almost extinct art.'

Kelsey was a cadet at Osborne and Dartmouth, entering the Royal Navy in 1907. He served afloat during World War One. He was Commodore in charge at Freetown 1942-44, Captain of HMS 'Warspite' 1944-45, Commodore at Chatham 1945-6. Before his retirement in 1949, he was Fleet Officer at Malta.