CLOTH SEAL

A group of three lead alloy cloth seals of Post-Medieval date, about AD 1550 - 1700. Two of the seals are two part seals; the third may be two sections of a four part seal, though this cannot be determined with any degree of certainty. The individual details are:

1. A flat disc with a central stud, attached by a rectangular tab to a flat ring of metal which is folded over the stud. One side is impressed with a crowned portcullis within a circle and surrounded by part of a legend in gothic script. A possible reading of the part legend is (P or R)RAM or PAM. The other side of the seal is plain and unmarked. This seal is 17.1mm in diameter and 3.7mm thick. It weighs 5.58gm.

2. A flat disc with a central stud, attached by a rectangular tab to a flat ring of metal which is folded over the stud. Part of a design is visible and appears to be part of a crown. Again, the other side of the seal is plain and unmarked. This seal is 17.1mm in diameter and 4mm thick. It weighs 5.04gm.

3. This seal is different from the other two and smaller. There are two circular discs, linked by a rectangular section of metal, and both sides are impressed with a partial design. On one side the design consists of a circle, within which are three uprights linked by a horizontal base line with a curving line depending from its centre; on the other side is part of a circle with two uprights within it. This seal is 13.6mm in diameter and 3.7mm thick. It weighs 3.42gm

Seals with a crowned portcullis design are thought to be cloth seals and are attributed to the sixteenth century. See: Egan, 1992, Finds Research Group, Datasheet 3, page 2.