A LOVE token from the past that has lain hidden for more than a century has been uncovered at historic Quex House in Birchington.

The embroidered hanky bearing a red lipstick kiss and a teardrop glass bead from a young woman’s costume was found tucked secretly inside a tiny pouch pocket folded inside a tunic that belonged to naturalist and explorer Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotton.

Archivist Hazel Basford said: “This is a delightful and intriguing find that hints at romance.

“Our textile conservator Dulce Rivero was preparing the clothing – a 21st birthday party costume of shirt, jacket, doublet and bonnet, and a pouch which was worn on a belt – for an exhibition highlighting the Victorian period at Quex.

“It had been packed away for decades and there is no evidence of the pouch’s contents seeing the light of day, until a few weeks ago.”

It is believed that the hanky belonged to Violet Martin , a friend of Percy’s, who is pictured with him in September 1887 at his birthday.

Mrs Basford said: “A contemporary photograph shows Percy in the costume tenderly holding the hand of a young lady who we know to have been Violet, daughter of a retired army officer and frequent visitor to Quex. She is also in costume and glass beads similar to that found in the pouch can be seen sewn on to it.”

Unfortunately the romance did not last and two years later Percy began a trip around the world.

The exhibition called A Victorian House is open to the public until the end of the year.

* Percy established a museum in the garden of the Regency period Quex House to display his extensive collection of natural history from Africa and Asia.