KEY (LOCKING)

An incomplete copper alloy rotary key of probable Medieval dating (AD 1150 to AD 1400).

The key is irregular in shape and cross section. The key can be described in several sections: The bow or handle, shank and bit.

The bow is sub lentoid (diamond) in shape, with a circular collar projection located at the central point on the outside edge. The collar is complete. The collar is open, with a vertical bar at the centre. A piece of leather thonging is still present, wrapped around the bar at the centre of the collar. It has been wrapped round twice. A sub lentoid perforation (hole) is present at the centre of the bow, with two rectangular knops projecting (one from the top and one from the bottom). The bow has a sub square cross section. The shank is attached to the bow at the mid point of the right hand side. A faint rectangular single rectangular moulding or collar is present at the junction between shank and bow.

The shank consists of an hollow rod, rectangular in shape and circular in cross section.

The bit is sub rectangular in shape and cross section. The clefts consist of a central vertical one splitting the bit into two. The end bit has two horizontal rectangular clefts removed from the end. A horizontal groove is cut along the width of the bit on one side.

The key measures 79.2 mm in length, 31.7 mm wide and 13.7 mm thick. It weighs 31.8 g.

The key is a mid to dark green colour and has an uneven surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail.

From the size of the key and the presence of a hollow shank it is likely that the key would have been used to lock a casket or chest rather than a door. Door locks tend to have a solid shank and are larger (ibid: 111). The keys illustrated in Egan (1998, 111-119) are all dated from the late 12th - to late 14th centuries (1150-1400). Therefore a similar date is suggested here for this example.

Several similar rotary keys have been recorded on the PAS database including: WMID-68F235, WMID-033700, WMID-8D3540 and WMID-986EE4.