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KEY (LOCKING)

Unique ID: PUBLIC-9DAF8D

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

A fragment of a cast copper-alloy locking key dating to the Medieval period, c. 1200-1500. Only the bottom part of the shaft, bit, and wards survive, with the rest of the object (remainder of the shaft and handle) having been broken away in old damage. The shaft itself is circular in section, while the bit is rectangular in plan and broadly 'L' shaped in section due to a deep cleft on one side of the key. From the base of the bit, four wards project away from the shaft, though only one of these is preserved complete. The key is preserved in poor condition, with an uneven green patina covering most of its surfaces. The shaft measures 25.79mm long and is 7.77mm wide, while the bit is 23.10mm long and c. 6.38mm wide. At the broken end of the shaft, the key measures c. 6.53mm thick. It weighs 11.5 grammes.

Notes:

A number of similar keys are illustrated on the PAS database though the closest match to this example is SWYOR-06E2ED, which has been assigned a similar date.

Class: London type VI

Subsequent actions

Current location of find: with finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1500

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 26.79 mm
Width: 7.77 mm
Thickness: 6.53 mm
Weight: 11.5 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 21st August 2016

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Fragment

Spatial metadata

Region: South East (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: West Sussex (County)
District: Mid Sussex (District)
Parish or ward: Horsted Keynes (Civil Parish)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: TQ3728
Four figure Latitude: 51.0350387
Four figure longitude: -0.0474695
1:25K map: TQ3728
1:10K map: TQ32NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
Discovery circumstances: while searching with a metal detector
Current location: with finder
General landuse: Grassland, Heathland
Specific landuse: Disturbed

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: PUBLIC
Created: 7 years ago
Updated: 4 years ago

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