SEAL

A collection of 13 lead cloth seals and bag seals all found within the footprint of a now demolished bacon curing factory (Harris') in Calne, Wiltshire. Ten of these seals are post medieval (1540-1900), the remainder are medieval (1066-1539).

3 bag type seals of WEBB & SONS MANFrs SALTNEY CHESTER, on the reverse is a central horseshoe-like design within which are possible blades of cereal sprouting topped with the word WEBBS and REGISTERED TRADE MARK around the edge. The combined weight is 37.15 grams. Webbs took over the Saltney business c.1894.

A lead bga seal of GOUVERNEMENT DE PEROU with a cornucopia in the centre. On the reverse the legend is a star and GUANO DE PEROU and large upper case H in the centre. The seal weighs 14.42 grams.

A lead bag seal of GOUVERNEMENT DE PEROU within an outer pelleted border D[ ]POSE and cornucopia alongside all within an inner ciruclar pelleted border, On the reverse within an outer pelleted border DE[ ]US[ ]CO within an inner pelleted border GUANO DE PEROU. It weighs15.39 grams.

A lead bag seal of [ ]I.E. POIRJON with a sheaf of cereal in the centre. On the reverse [ ]NS DE SORCI [ ]EUS with 1RE in the centre. It weighs 6.11 grams.

A lead bag seal [ ]RIN ANMIEUX with &C in the centre. On the reverse QUAI DE LA MEG[ ] (probably Megisserie) with No A PARIS in the centre. It weighs 6.93 grams.

A lead bag seal BA[[ ] CLA[ ]E with a seven petalled flower in the centre. On the reverse [ ]E [ ]NDRES with 1RE in the centre. It weighs 5.66 grams

A post medieval lead seal stamped very deeply with the letter M on both sides. It weighs 11.40 grams

A post medieval lead seal in poor condition. Wthin a pelleted border [ ]DRE[ ], the reverse border is also pelleted within which SUSS[ ] can be deciphered. It weighs 8.75 grams.

A fragment of a medieval lead cloth seal with the letter B and possibly IF and two fleurs de lys. Probably French. The seal weighs 9.64 grams

A lead medieval cloth seal with indeterminate markings. The seal is in two pieces but still joined, it weighs 6.88 grams.

A lead medieval cloth seal marked XX supported by a large I with I and H either side. The reverse is unmarked. It weighs 5.64 grams.

At least 8 of these seals can be given a good date within a range on the following basis. They all relate to bags of agricultural fertiliser. Given that the former Wilts & Berks Canal is about 35 metres away from the generalised findspot and that it was not opened until 1810 and that Harris' Factory was built c.1919, a date of 1810-1918 can be given as an outside date range. Imports of guano from South America were at their height between 1840-1870 and this date could therefore be argued to be the more likely for the Peruvian seals.

The three cloth seals are medieval

Although only a selection of 13 seals was made for this report, the owner of the seals has at least 100 seals all found on this site prior to the building of the factory in 1919. The large number of seals strongly suggests that the site in Calne was an area of trade, import and probably warehousing, associated either with the canal or the River Marden.