Authors attempt to unravel chess-piece mystery

The chess piece is on display in the Salisbury and South Wilts Museum

In January 2010 the BBC launched a major new project - A History of the World - designed to tell a history of Wiltshire and its place in the world through ten man-made objects.

One of the objects selected, a walrus ivory chess piece dating back to medieval times, was found in one of the city of Salisbury's drainage channels in the 1850s.

It is now on display in the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum.

As the origins of the chess piece are unknown, local writer Pippa Gladhill and a group of other writers were asked to create short stories on how it might have come to reside in the drainage channel.

Listen to each author read their stories via the audio links below.

The Man in the Ivory King by David Punter

David Punter is a writer and academic who lives and works in the West Country. He has published some thirty books including four small volumes of poetry.

The Deal by Sarah Curwen

Sarah Curwen works and studies in Wiltshire. She is on the Scriptwriting MA course at Corsham.

1950 A-Levels versus Professional Soccer by Keith Wiltshire

Keith Wiltshire was born in Devizes in 1933 and attended Devizes Grammar school from 1943 -51.

The Chess Man by Pauline Wiltshire

Pauline Wiltshire came to Wiltshire as a child to escape the London Blitz.

The Chess Piece by Eben Merrell

Eben Merrell is a student who lives and studies near Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire.

King's Gambit by Pippa Gladhill

Pippa Gladhill's stories have won awards and have been broadcast on Radio 4 and Radio 3, including two stories broadcast from Bath Literature Festival.

Sedna or Walrus Ivory by Angela Goodman

Angela Goodman is an artist and writer who teaches in Wiltshire.

A Royal Progress by Tim Rolt

Tim Rolt lives in the West Country. He has made award winning short films, and has directed commercials in the UK and internationally for many leading brands. He is currently completing a screenwriting MA at Corsham Court, Wiltshire through Bath Spa University.

If you'd like to share any objects that you have that help to tell the story of Wiltshire's past and its connections with the wider world you can add them to our digital museum on the BBC History of the World

website.