Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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Unique ID: LANCUM-2F060D
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A complete cast copper-alloy barrel or box padlock spring mechanism dating from the medieval period, that is c. 11th-15th century.
Overall, the mechanism is U-shaped in profile with a flat rectangular lower arm and cylindrical/circular cross-sectioned upper arm. The lower arm is rectangular in profile and tapers slightly towards its tip. It has extensive tool marks on all surfaces and a small cylindrical copper-alloy rivet attaches rectangular copper-alloy leaf springs to each side close to the tip. At the opposite end, at the point where the object begins to curve the lower arm had two flat spring coils (now damaged) riveted to the shank. The upper arm is cylindrical in form tapering to a point and has slight faceting with toolmarks visible on all faces.
This is the internal mechanism for a medieval box or barrel padlock. The rectangular arm with leaf springs would have been inserted into the lock itself and the pointed upper arm into a cylindrical receptacle on the upper surface of the lock, enabling secure closing of the padlock. Similar lock mechanisms are noted from Medieval Winchester in Biddle's Types A and B padlocks that indicate a date in the 11th-15th centuries AD for the current example (see especially Biddle, 1991: pp. 1001-1003, nos. 3658-3659). A similar find from Herringswell in Suffolk was recorded as SF-315EA8.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1066
Date to: Circa AD 1500
Quantity: 1
Length: 63 mm
Height: 31 mm
Width: 13 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 12.17 g
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 13th February 2018
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Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.