PATTEN

An almost complete post-Medieval iron foot patten (c. 1720-c. 1900). This patten has an oval ring, slightly squashed on one side and rectangular in cross-section. It has a raised platform at the heel end where there is a trapezoidal attachment plate and a raised platform at the toe in the shape of a circle with a long, tapering protrusion at the front edge. The trapezoidal heel plate has two iron rivet holes on the outer edge and the toe plate has one iron rivet still present in the centre.

Goodall, I (1973:63) comments that the single- and double-riveted raised terminals were characteristic of pattens. The rivets passed through a wooden sole. Shoes were secured by straps to these pattens, which raised the wearers' feet above dirt and mud. "Pattens with iron rings were used during and after the 17th century. The earliest known reference is 1625 and the type with the crinkled edge is thought to be superseded by the plain oval hoop by c.1720." (ibid).

The patten is very corroded, with one corner of the trapezoidal (heel) plate missing. Measuring 2100mm long, 25mm high and ring is 4mm thick, plates 3mm thick. Weighing 113.3g.