A Victorian gold bracelet, mounted with six rhomboid-shaped glazed panels, the two terminals each with two eye miniatures and the other four panels each with two portrait miniatures depicting members of the Nottidge family, the reverse of each panel is engraved with various names, each panel measures 1.9 x 3.9cm and connected with a pair of lobed quatrefoil links, total width 18cm, fitted case with paper trade sticker for Hamlet of Princes Street, Leicester Square, Royal Warrant to the Duke of Clarence and Royal FamilyIn the mid 19th century the Nottidge family were involved in a scandal that inadvertently led to another. The joining of a religious cult in Somerset by some of the daughters of Josias Nottidge (1767 - 1844) resulted in the incarceration of Louisa Nottidge (1802 - 1858) in a 'lunatic asylum' whilst she was totally sane and against her will in 1846.Louisa grew up with her large family in Wixoe, Suffolk. They first met the Reverend Henry Prince, when he preached at a nearby village and quietly ingratiated himself within the family. He persuaded Louisa and her three other unmarried sisters to make substantial contributions from their recent inheritance from their departed father, to the founding of a religious 'community' in Somerset. This was to be called the Agapemone, or 'abode of love'.Events escalated rapidly in 1845 when three of the Nottidge girls travelled to Somerset to live in the Agapemone. En route, Harriet, Agnes and Clara were persuaded by Prince to marry three Agapemone clergymen in Swansea. Louisa was then persuaded by Prince to join her sisters in Somerset despite the attempts of Agnes to warn her off.Understandably, the girls' mother was becoming anxious as to her four daughters well being. By this time, the Agapemone was becoming scandalous and was reported in the national press as a den of iniquity. Their mother instructed her son Edmund, nephew Edward and son-in-law Frederick to rescue the unmarried Louisa which they did, against her will. Following her persistent claims that Prince was devout and good, Louisa was certified insane and incarcerated in to Moorcroft House lunatic asylum in Hillingdon under the mother's instructions. Louisa's condition and treatment were recorded in the lancet.There were a number of cases of women being placed into 'lunatic asylums' against their will and for the convenience of their family or guardians. Several sensational incidents were exposed by the national press and were covered vigorously. The public outcry surrounding these appalling stories inspired the author Wilkie Collins who wrote the novel 'The Woman in White' in 1860.Louisa escaped from the asylum on 6th January 1848, was caught and returned two days later then released after the intervention of her brother-in-law the Rev William Cobbe.In 1849 Louisa successfully sued part of her family for abduction and false imprisonment and was awarded damages and costs. She returned to the Agapemone, transferred her wealth to Prince and remained there to her death in 1858.Her brother Ralph then successfully sued Prince in 1860 for the return of Louisa's fortune.