ASSEMBLAGE

An assemblage of material - found deliberately placed together within the floor socket of an internal wooden partition wall. The assemblage is dated by the pipe bowl to the mid 17th century. It consists of the following pieces; Broken clay pipe, copper alloy crotal / bell, shard of window glass, iron ring, lead weight with hole, incomplete leather object - possibly shoe related filled with organic matter - probably straw (or possibly tobacco). It seems that this group represents a deliberately curated assemblage - it is possible that it had specific significance to the person who placed, hid or concealed the items. It is possible that they had magical or symbolic importance.

Clay Pipe

An incomplete clay tobacco pipe bowl of late post medieval date similar in style to David Atkinson's Broseley Type 1b dated to the period 1650-1660. The mouth of the bowl is narrow and slightly angled; the profile has a slight median swelling (slight baluster look). It shows signs of burnishing (straight, smoothing strokes) bottering (smoothing of the bowl rim) and rouletting. The heal which is round - is unmarked.

The pipe measures 51.5mm length, height 31.8mm, bowl diameter at the mouth 14.0mm, diameter at the mid point 20.9mm, the heel has a diameter 11.6mm, the pipe weighs 11.85 grams.

Crotal / Bell

Incomplete cast copper alloy crotal or rumbler bell of probable post medieval date (1600-1700). The bell is sub-circular in plan and profile with an integral cast sub-rectangular suspension loop attached to the top. Through the loop is preserved a length of linen cloth / thread which is knotted at the junction with the loop. The body of the bell has a maximum diameter of 29.6mm; the rectangular suspension loop measures 11.3mm high, 12.0mm wide, 4.6mm thick. The bell weighs 32.04 grams. The upper hemisphere of the bell is undecorated. It has two cast circular holes (diameter 6.0mm) positioned either side of the suspension loop. The lower hemisphere is also plain and undecorated; t is also perforated by a central split which is formed from two circular perforations joined by a linear slot. The bell is a mid brown colour with an even patina which covers all surfaces. Similar crotal or rumbler bells have been dated to the late post medieval period, usually the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Weight

Cast lead or lead alloy weight of probable late medieval - post medieval date (1400-1700). The weight is sub-circular in plan and convex D shape in cross section. The exterior surface of the weight is poorly preserved with laminating crystaline surface corrosion present. Through the centre of the weight is an irregular oval shaped hole. The weight is a mid grey colour with an uneven patina that covers all surfaces.

The weight measures 54.6mm length, 46.5mm widthm is 10.7mm thick and weighs 63.87 grams or 2.25ozs .

Glass

A irregular triangular shard of window glass, mid green in colour with oval / lentoid shaped bubbles within the matrix. Two edges seem original suggesting the glass comes from a small pane.

The shard measures 66.2mm length, 44.7mm width, is 2.3mm thick and weighs 6.77 grams.

Iron Ring

An iron pennanular ring of unknown date and function. The ring is formed with its open edges being rolled back upon themselves in a regular scroll. The surface has a reasonable, albeit corroded / rusted surface.

The ring measures, 52.4mm length, 49.8 mm width is 8.0mm high and 5.1mm thick. It weighs 28.8 grams

Leather

The leather object is exceptionally dry and friable, if it were to be opened out it would be oval (tear drop shaped). Around the edges are regular positioned holes which are square in shape, in some areas are the remains of small iron nails / rivets. Within the leather are the remains of straw, dirt and fine shredded material. It is possible that this is a deliberate deposit - or could possible be the remains of a mouse nest. There is an outside chance that this fibrous material could be tobacco.

The leather element measures 72.0mm length, 41.0mm width, is 2.7mm thick and weighs 12.12 grams.