Record ID: SWYOR-703FD4
Object type: PADLOCK
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper plated iron barrel padlock of early medieval to medieval date, about AD 950 - 1400, perhaps more likely to be from the later end of the range suggested. Only a fragment of the case survives. It is part of a cylinder made of iron with a copper alloy surface coating. The outer face is decorated with longitudinal ridges. Only part of one end plate survives and it is not clear if the incomplete hole in it is an intentional keyhole or corrosion. Measurements are; length 34.1mm, width 26.6mm, thickness 14.9mm and weight 15.0g. Compare WMID-D898F7, BUC-BBEC0A a…
Created on: Monday 11th December 2023
Last updated: Tuesday 23rd January 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-680620
Object type: AXEHEAD
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Rotherham
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A probably Medieval iron axehead dating from AD 1100 - 1500. The socket is incomplete, with one face missing. The cutting edge is convex, or this may be a broken end. It is wider than the rest of the blade, which tapers smoothly to the socket. The sides of the socket are shaped into a point so the socket is taller than the neck of the blade. It is covered with corrosion. Weight is 1470g, Length 262mm, Width 98mm and Thickness 28mm. Dr Kevin Leahy looked for parallels to the shape in books by Manning on Roman iron, Goodhall on Medieval ironworkand Salman on recent tools, and sugg…
Created on: Thursday 20th May 2021
Last updated: Tuesday 25th May 2021
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-F4A3E6
Object type: SWORD
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: North Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An iron sword pommel from a large sword, of Medieval date, AD 1100 - 1400. The pommel is sub-spherical and hollow, and has an oval hole through its length which would have housed the tang, and which would have had a securing 'end cap' terminal at the other end. The pommel has eight vertical ribs running down the length of the body, the iron corrosion possibly hiding evidence for copper strips, while there is a faint casting seam around its girth. It is about 56.0mm, height approximately 45.0mm. weight about 135.0g. BERK-65B4A2 is a very similar example. The record notes that: "A…
Created on: Friday 3rd July 2020
Last updated: Friday 3rd July 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-2E48D4
Object type: KEY (LOCKING)
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Doncaster
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete iron key of Medieval or Post Medieval date, about AD 1200 - 1800. The bow is incomplete but appears to have been oval. The stem is badly corroded, but is essentially sub-circular in cross-section and has a projecting tip beyond the bit. The bit is incomplete, but appears to be uncut. The key is 108mm long, 36mm wide and 14mm thick. 52.48g.
Created on: Friday 27th April 2018
Last updated: Friday 3rd May 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-D67DBD
Object type: HORSESHOE
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Lancashire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An iron horseshoe (in two pieces) of probable Medieval to Post Medieval date, about AD 1250 - 1600. It is of Clark type 4 (Clark, 2004, The Medieval Horse and its Equipment). It has a fairly narrow inner profile and no obvious calkins. The shoe has three nail holes on one side and four on the other with six rectangular headed nails extant or partially extant, each standing proud of the shoe. The horseshoe is sub-rectangular in section, being convex on the ground surface and flat on the foot surface. The web measures 31.6mm at its widest point and narrows down to 22mm at one heel, and …
Created on: Monday 5th March 2018
Last updated: Tuesday 19th May 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-9C97A1
Object type: KEY (LOCKING)
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Wakefield
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete iron key of Medieval or Post Medieval date, about AD 1200 - 1800. The bow is missing. The stem is badly corroded, but is essentially sub-circular in cross-section and has a projecting tip beyond the bit. The bit is incomplete, but has a cleft between two projecting wards in the outer edge. The key is 88mm long, 21.4mm wide and 10.9mm thick. 25.16g.
Created on: Wednesday 4th May 2016
Last updated: Thursday 12th May 2016
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-E75BF2
Object type: KEY (LOCKING)
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: North Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete iron rotary key, of probable Medieval or Post Medieval date (about AD 1150 - AD 1800). The bow is D shaped, with the shank extending from the centre of the straight edge. It is sub-rectangular in cross-section. The shank has significant corrosion build-up and its original dimensions are not clear. The shank projects for 9.5mm past the end of the bit. The bit is rectangular in plan and is also obscured by corrosion. It extends 23mm from the shank and is 26.4mm wide and 8.7mm thick. Any details of wards or clefts is invisible. The key is a dark reddish brown colour. …
Created on: Wednesday 14th October 2015
Last updated: Thursday 18th July 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-C91EC4
Object type: PADLOCK
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Calderdale
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A copper alloy coated iron artefact, probably an end plate from a cylindrical (barrel) barb spring padlock of Medieval date, about AD 1066 - 1500. It consists of a flat disc with a large, central perforation in the shape of a plain cross, the arms of which reach almost to the edge of the disc. The artefact has a smooth, dark brown patina. It is 33mm in diameter and 2.2mm thick. It weighs 8.61gm. Compare Ottaway and Rogers, 2002, Craft, Industry and Everyday Life: Finds From Medieval York, pages 2865 - 2867, also Egan, 2010, The Medieval Household, page 94, and Geake (2001) Finds …
Created on: Tuesday 26th August 2014
Last updated: Saturday 30th January 2021
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-21A640
Object type: SPUR
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Doncaster
Workflow stage: Published
The goad and neck and short length of spur body from a late Early-Medieval to early Medieval iron prick spur. The sides are largely missing, but the surviving back of the spur is D-shaped in cross-section. The neck is lozenge-shaped in cross-section and is 15mm long. The goad is a square-based pyramid shape. Similar spurs are illustrated by Ellis in Clark 1995, 131, and are dated from about AD 1050-1300 (Ellis in Clark 1995, 127). Compare also LIN-138C14, SF-1C3AC3 and the copper alloy example with a longer neck ESS-026E51.
Created on: Monday 18th February 2013
Last updated: Monday 15th October 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-4D4BF1
Object type: AXE
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: North Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An iron axe which is probably Medieval or Post Medieval in date. The axe has a looped socket formed by bending the end of the axe round and fusing it to the side of the blade. There is some damage to the edges of the blade. The blade is slightly curved downwards from the socket, and the lower edge flares. It tapers and thickens towards the socket.It is badly corroded. The base of the socket, which is D shaped in profile, has a slight pointed projection. Axes are hard to date as they do not change much in style from the Roman period through to the Post-Medieval. However, it is lik…
Created on: Friday 8th February 2013
Last updated: Monday 28th June 2021
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-B6E5A4
Object type: OX SHOE
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: North Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An iron probable ox shoe dating from the 11th - 17th Century. The shoe consists of a "comma" shaped plate of rusty iron, with two possible nails. A small amount of the plate at each end seems to be missing. Compare KENT-551BC5 and LANCUM-6A6326. KENT-551BC5 notes that: "In England the earliest reference [to ox shoes] is probably dating from the 11th Century when Guibert De Nugent mentions rustics who shod their oxen like horses. The ox has a bifurcated or cloven hoof. An ox shoe is therefore constructed of two separate plates, so that one plate was needed for the outer and one fo…
Created on: Wednesday 15th August 2012
Last updated: Saturday 23rd May 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-5860B0
Object type: CALTROP
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: North Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Probably a Medieval or Post Medieval caltrop made from iron. The object consists of six rectangular sectioned spikes which are arranged so that it appears cross shaped when viewed from any angle. Three of the spikes are complete. A caltrop usually has four spikes but this appears to have the same function. Compare LEIC-6F1C31 and DENO-198F30.
Created on: Friday 30th March 2012
Last updated: Friday 30th March 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-4CCCA3
Object type: ARROWHEAD
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Barnsley
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A corroded iron object that may be a medieval arrowhead. It is socketed and appears to be a damaged bullet head type of arrowhead. These have heads which are very little wider than the socket. In plan the object is irregular with part of one side flange missing and the other missing entirely. The tip is also damaged. Similar arrowheads are catalogued in the Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue by Alan Borg, who notes that Medieval arrowheads are impossible to date with more accuracy. The finder reports that the arrowhead is about 38mm long and that the socket is about 14mm in diameter.…
Created on: Tuesday 31st May 2011
Last updated: Wednesday 3rd June 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-370763
Object type: SPUR
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: North Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An iron spur, probably medieval. Only the heel and part of the neck surviving. The heel area is tall and then tapers towards the arms. The neck is broken, so it is impossible to be certain whether it is a prick or rowel spur, but it seems more likely it is a rowel spur. The height of the heel area is consistent with 15th century rowel spurs with very long necks such as number 347 in The Medieval Horse. This date is supported by the findspot on Towton Battlefield, which may suggest a date of 1461.
Created on: Friday 18th March 2011
Last updated: Friday 5th June 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Towton', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: SWYOR-BE4E72
Object type: ARROWHEAD
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Doncaster
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An iron arrowhead probably dating from the Medieval period. It is socketed and leaf shaped. The blade has an elliptical cross section, and the socket is sub circular. It is similar to number 63 on page 86 of the Salisbury Medieval Catalogue (Saunders). One corner is missing and the tip.
Created on: Tuesday 23rd November 2010
Last updated: Wednesday 20th November 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-E71942
Object type: WEAPON
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Doncaster
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Two conjoined iron objects, an axe and a dagger. The dagger has been slotted through the socket of the axe. The two pieces are corroded together, but it is not clear if they were joined during use, or only at the point of deposition. Though originally considered to be a single object, perhaps a battleaxe, this has now been discounted, as it would seem that battleaxes tend to have larger axe blades, and the tang does not seem substantial enough for such an object. The iron axe head is 164mm long, 54mm wide and 16mm thick. The hole for hafting is 33mm long, 8mm wide and is a narrow re…
Created on: Wednesday 3rd March 2010
Last updated: Tuesday 4th September 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-6FDB44
Object type: BUCKLE
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: North Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A rectangular shaped iron buckle with the pin still in place wrapped around the frame; it has corroded in the shut position. It probably dates from the Medieval period. It has a length of 40.03mm, width 33.14mm, thickness 5.61mm and a weight of 17.60g. For reference similar examples on the data base include: SWYOR-2FE0C6 and NARC-01FC77.
Created on: Thursday 15th October 2009
Last updated: Wednesday 11th April 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-A694C2
Object type: UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of an iron unidentified object. It is 21.3mm long, 15.2mm wide, and 9.4mm thick. It weighs 3.73gm. The object consists of a broken piece of a rectangular (?) plate which has a raised rim along one long edge and which is decorated by two raised wavy or zig zag lines along the centre. At the more complete end there is an end piece at right angles to the plate, so the whole forms a corner, but the end piece is concave. There would also have been side pieces those these are almost complete missing. The metal is corroded but stable. There is no evidence of attachment. A late med…
Created on: Thursday 18th June 2009
Last updated: Wednesday 23rd December 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-EA8222
Object type: SHEARS
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Leeds
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Part of a medieval or post medieval set of iron shears. The single-edged iron blade has a short section of the tang remaining. The shape of the blade where it meets the tang is semi circular and suggests that this could be one blade from a pair of shears. It is 182.82mm long, 31.2mm wide, and 6mm thick. It weighs 89.56gm. Similar medieval shears can be seen in Knives and Scabbards by Cowgill et al, and a complete pair on the database is LON-0DA665. However, this very functional object type continued to be used into the post medieval and modern periods, so a firm date cannot be attribut…
Created on: Thursday 28th May 2009
Last updated: Tuesday 4th September 2012
No spatial data available.

Record ID: SWYOR-994E04
Object type: KNIFE
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: North Yorkshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An iron object, possibly part of a knife possibly from the medieval period. It is 107.74mm long, 25.74mm wide and 5.88mm thick. It weighs 47.93g. Only part of the blade of the possible knife survives. The blade tapers towards the tip, but it also bends upwards, casting doubt on its identification. There is no visible decoration. The knife probably dates from the 12th - 15th century. It was found on Towton Battlefield, so it may date from 1461. See Knives and Scabbards by Cowgill et al.
Created on: Tuesday 12th May 2009
Last updated: Wednesday 28th March 2012
Spatial data recorded.