A BIZARRE reminder of Newton Abbot's rope-making past has been presented to the town's museum. It has been given a rope swing measuring 12 foot, made not from hemp but human hair. The hair in question belonged to Maud Allbrighton, who lived with her husband in the flat above Brooks rope-makers in East Street. 'It's dark chestnuty brown, wiry and very strong,' said curator Felicity Cole. 'It's not a massive ship rope, more like cord about half a centimetre thick.' Rope or cord, it was strong enough to support Mrs Allbrighton's weight, as is evident from a picture taken in 1928, shortly after it was made. 'Aunt Maud's hair was donated to the museum by her niece Jean Osborne, from Ipplepen, who was able to pass on its history. Mrs Cole said: 'She had extremely long heavy hair and wore it up. It used to weigh her down and she grew it again after it was cut. Obviously they were friends with the men who worked in the rope works beneath and they must have commented that her hair was strangely strong.' Those wanting to look at this phenomenon for themselves will be able to do so at the museum where it should be on show from Monday.