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KEY (LOCKING)
Unique ID: CORN-77D4F1
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Incomplete cast copper alloy night latch or slide key, missing the internal bars in the bit which would have turned the lock. The key is complete and in a very good condition. It is slightly bent, probably from use on a heavy latch. The handle or bow is oval-shaped with a slightly expanded inner edge opposite the shank. The bow narrows into the shank which is round in section at this point. The shank or stem has three concentric parallel mouldings along its length, before it meets the bit at right angles, where it is square in section. The bit is shield-shaped with indented rectangular recesses half way along each internal edge, and two projections on one side which would have been mirrored by two projections on the opposite side and possibly bent into a 'L' shape as seen in LANCUM-9C5462, or straight, but not meeting in the middle as in LANCUM-01DC94. Night latch or slide keys have been known since the Roman period and there are numerous examples from the Medieval and Post-medieval period. This example, from its style of bow and shank, dates from the 19th century.
The bow is 22 mm long and 22 mm wide; the shank is 16 mm long and 9 mm in diameter, and the bit is 28 mm long, 23 mm wide and 4 mm thick.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1800
Date to: Circa AD 1900
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 65 mm
Width: 22 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 16.69 g
Diameter: 9 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 1st September 2012 - Saturday 22nd September 2012
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
District: Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Saltash (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SX3858
Four figure Latitude: 50.399495
Four figure longitude: -4.280795
1:25K map: SX3858
1:10K map: SX38SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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