KEY (LOCKING)

A complete hand made iron rotary key, of probable medieval dating (AD 1150 - AD 1400).

The key is irregular in plan and cross section. Being made out of iron, it was probably forged. The key can be described in several sections: The bow or handle, shank and bit.

The bow consists of a vertical oval, with an oval cross section. It is 49.5 mm tall and 39.1 mm wide. The shank is attached to the bow at the mid point of the right hand side.

The shank consists of an rod, rectangular in plan and circular in cross section. It swells in the middle of the shank, with a collar just before the bit. It is 100.0 mm long and has a diameter of 10.0 mm. The shank projects 10.4 mm past the end of the bit.

The bit is rectangular in plan and cross section. It extends below the shank 24.4 mm and is 25.9 mm wide and 10.4 mm thick.. The wards appear to surround a central opening, with an T shaped crest, point downwards on either side of the central opening.

The key is a dark brown colour and has an even patina. The finder has treated the key to prevent further corrosion.

The key measures 140.3 mm in length, 12.0 mm wide and is 49.2 mm tall. It weighs 95.0 g.

A number of very similar rotary keys are shown in G. Egan's 'Medieval Households' pages 111-119. From the size of the key and the presence of a solid shank it is likely that the key would have been used to lock a door rather than a casket or chest. Chest locks tend to have a hollow shank and are significantly smaller (ibid: 111). The keys illustrated in this volume are all dated from the late 12th - to late 14th centuries (AD 1150 - AD 1400). Therefore a similar date is suggested here for this example.

Reference:

Egan, G. Security Equipment in Egan 1998

Egan, G. 1998 The Medieval Household Daily Living c.1150-c.1450. Medieval finds from Excavations in London 6. London. Museum of London / The Stationery Office.