Record ID: SUR-CBD5AE
Object type: PEN
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Milton Keynes
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A late medieval or early post medieval cast copper alloy pen; the terminal is missing and the shaft is bent. A section across the head of the pen takes the form of a cross. The shaft is knobbed to provide a grip when holding. A few of pens of this type have been recorded including a few on the PAS database. See for example a pen from London (Egan 1998, Fig.209 no.898). Egan suggests a date in the 16th century on comparison with similar handles on cutlery of that period.
Created on: Monday 2nd June 2014
Last updated: Monday 23rd June 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-6CCCAC
Object type: PEN
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete medieval bone pen dating 13th -15th century, slightly curved and with an uneven head. It has been sharpened at an angle to form a point, and it has been hollowed to contain ink for writing on parchment. There are slight wear marks on the shaft. A similar bone pen (slightly longer) can be seen in the Museum of London permanent collection (Item 11113), dated 13th - 15th century. Dimensions: length: 65.34mm; diameter of the head: 5.83mm; diameter of the shaft: 3.70mm; weight: 0.70g.
Created on: Monday 11th September 2017
Last updated: Monday 17th December 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NMS-D25A83
Object type: PEN
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragment of a medieval copper alloy pen: the integral shank or handle is missing and only one end survives, broken where it widens into four flanged grooves which taper to a point. Length >26mm. Width 5mm. Probably used for ink rather than wax, one such pen was found with charters and other documents under flooring at Canterbury Cathedral. See image and discussion in Alexander and Binski 1987, p.383, no.422. A complete pen was found in Beachamwell, Norfolk in 1990 (HER 2635). 13th century.
Created on: Tuesday 16th October 2012
Last updated: Friday 19th October 2012
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'SNETTERTON', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NARC-DA7F11
Object type: PEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Published
A cast copper-alloy pen of uncertain date, probably early post-medieval. The shaft has a central panel decorated with four longitudinal rows of linked lozengiform facets, with hollows between; this central panel is 51mm long. At the top is a globular knop with a flattened, sub-circular top. Between the knop and the lozengiform faceted decoration the shaft is plain and circular in cross-section for a length of 10mm. There is a similar plain, narrow section at the opposite end, this time 19.5mm long, between the lozengiform decoration on the shaft and the lanceolate end. The knop is 5mm…
Created on: Friday 14th November 2008
Last updated: Friday 28th February 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LVPL-774054
Object type: PEN
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Rochdale
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Copper alloy nib from a Post-Medieval pen, probably 15/16th century in date. It is incomplete, and slightly bent. It has a Y shaped cross section with 3 ribs, one of these has broken. This point would have led to a thin handle. A more complete example has been recorded on the database as DOR-173638.
Created on: Friday 9th January 2009
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-8BC7C4
Object type: PEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Published
A medieval - post medieval copper alloy pen dating (13th - 16th century). This pen has a faceted shaft that terminates at one end with a globular knop that has a discoid top. At the opposite end of the shaft there is a four-sided lanceolate end with a bevelled groove filed along each side to form the point. The shaft is bent. Dimensions: length: 105.36mm; width of nib: 5.48mm; thickness of nib: 6.20mm; diameter of shaft: 3.14mm; weight: 7g. A very similar example is published in Egan (1998:271 no. 898) with reference to other published examples that are tentatively dated to …
Created on: Monday 10th August 2015
Last updated: Thursday 17th May 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LIN-CDD296
Object type: PEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Two probable copper alloy pen nibs. The nibs are four-sided lanceolate terminals, which taper to a pointed end. The other end is broken. The nib resembles a slender bronze arrowhead however these two examples can be compared to a complete copper alloy pen discovered during excavations at Billingsgate Lorry Park, Lower Thames Street, London (Egan, 1998, The Medieval Household, p271, fig. 209 no.898). The discussion in Egan, 1998, p271 suggests a 16th century date for the pen, and includes references to other examples known from England where a 13th century date is tentatively sugges…
Created on: Friday 30th March 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DOR-173638
Object type: PEN
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Dorset
Workflow stage: Published
A copper alloy pen Medieval date. A cast copper-alloy pen with a lozenge faceted and twisted shaft. The shaft narrows into a plain, circular sectioned length at the distal end and and terminates in a rounded knop. There is a similar plain, narrow section between the faceted decoration and the lanceolate end. The lanceolate end has four curving, flat foils and tapers to a point. The shaft has been bent. See Egan, G, 1998, Medieval Household, no. 898. Date: Probably Late Medieval to Early Post Medieval - c. 1400 - 1550 Dimensions: 84.56 mm x 6.30 mm x 6.27 mm Weight: 5.96 g A simi…
Created on: Monday 21st May 2007
Last updated: Tuesday 6th October 2015
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DEV-C263BB
Object type: PEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Somerset
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete, bent cast copper-alloy pen of uncertain date, probably early post-medieval (c. 16th century, or slightly earlier). Its truncated shaft is missing its terminal but retains part of a central panel decorated with four longitudinal rows of linked lozengiform facets, with hollows between. Below is a plain, narrow section, between the lozengiform decoration on the shaft and the lanceolate end. There is a bevelled groove along each side of the lanceolate area, creating four reservoirs to hold the ink. The lanceolate end is 26 mm in length, and 5 mm at i…
Created on: Thursday 22nd September 2022
Last updated: Thursday 29th September 2022
Spatial data recorded.