POWDER MEASURE

A cast lead alloy cap from a Post Medieval powder measure. The cap is damaged with the mouth squashed partially closed and a large hole broken in the base. Originally it was a circular cup with tapering sides and a flat base. There is a squashed attachement loop at one side of the base and there was probably originally a second opposite it. It has a slightly thickened rim on the outer side and two casting seams running down the sides opposite each other at 90 degrees around the side from the attachement loop. It is 22.2mm long, 20.1mm wide, 18.1mm tall with walls 1.9mm thick at the rim; it weighs 28.44 grams. The powder cap is a common find from Civil War sites. They formed the cap to the powder holder or flask which contained enough gunpowder for a single round. The caps were suspended from a bandolier by cord, and the flask was then pulled away from the cap when it needed. The cap probably dates to the 17th century (Courtney, P. 1988 ‘Small Arms Accessories of the mid Seventeenth Century’ Finds Research Group Datasheet 11). Similar examples are illustrated in the Beeston Castle excavations (Courtney, P. 1993 ‘The Medieval and Post Medieval Objects’ in Ellis, P. (ed.) Beeston Castle, Cheshire: Excavations by Lawrence Keen and Peter Hough, 1968-85 English Heritage). Nos. 40-43.