PADLOCK

An incomplete cast copper-alloy barrel padlock from the medieval period. The padlock chamber is a roughly hexagonal cylinder in profile with each side decorated with a pair of parallel grooves running horizontally along the length of the chamber in plan. Along the top edge of the chamber two flat upright arms extend from each end. The inside edges are slightly concaved and continue along the top edge of the barrel meeting in a sharp peak. Each arm and below the central peak are perforated with a circular hole. Each arm has a U-shaped terminal, both of which are damaged. One is likely to be the remains of a bolt collar and the other is likely to be the starting point of the bolt. The under side of the padlock chamber has a rectangular aperture which runs 3 /4 of its length; the remaining quarter is enclosed by a square lug projecting from the underside of the barrel. The chamber has a roughly circular key hole at the end where the lug is. This opening shows the internal structure as having a vertical, diving slat down the centre. The opposite end is enclosed and has a triangular extention on the underside edge. It is very similar to object number SUR-EAAD05 Egan 1998: 95-97 No. 250