The Portable Antiquities Scheme

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Two complete but worn cast lead alloy spindle whorls or weights of probable late Medieval to post Medieval date.

The first whorl is circular in plan and bi-convex in profile with a central circular perforation and traces of a worn raised design evident on both faces. On at least one of these faces this design appears to consist of pseudo-lettering and a quatrefoil of four pellets. The other face is too worn to decipher. Whorls which such lettering are thought to date predominantly to the 1600s. (Dimensions: diameter 26mm, 9.8mm thick, perforation 9.1mm across, 30.96g weight)

The second whorl is unusual in form and may indeed not be a true whorl but a weight for some other purpose. The whorl is cylindrical in shape with an uneven serrated, or undulating, outer edge and a central circular perforation. Both faces of the whorl are near flat and have incised decoration consisting of criss-crossed lines forming stars and cross formations on one face and a more irregular pattern on the opposing face, which mimics ogham script although the whorl is thought to be too late for this to be the case. (Dimensions: diameter 24.7mm, 9.5mm thick, perforation 8.6mm across, 30.7g weight)

Both whorls have a light creamy patina.

These whorls have been dated broadly as c.1400-1700. Lead whorls are, however known from as early as the Roman period and due to the ease of producing them probably remained in use up to the end of the post Medieval period.

No references cited so far.

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Created: Wednesday 1st February 2012
Updated: Wednesday 1st February 2012