Record ID: NARC-866487
Object type: RAPIER
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Published
A late 17th - early 19th-century rapier, with an iron blade, and copper-alloy pommel and guard. The grip is not preserved, but traces of decorative silver wire, and of (?) wood remain over the iron tang. The figure-8-shaped guard is solid cast (rather than machine-pressed), but undecorated but for a moulded marginal line. The blade is heavily corroded, but its overall form and 'blood-runner' groove are still clearly visible. The sword has been treated with a thick transparent lacquer in an effort to preserve/consolidate it. What remains of the blade is 250mm long, while the g…
Created on: Thursday 24th July 2008
Last updated: Tuesday 17th July 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-563F63
Object type: SPECTACLES (HUMAN)
Broad period: MODERN
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Spectacles: A complete, though heavily corroded, pair of iron-framed spectacles, with (relatively weakly) magnifying lenses, dating to the mid-18th century. The round-eye form with a C-bridge and straight sides is fairly typical of 'wig' spectacles of the 18th century, but the ring-shaped ends were introduced around the early 1740s and the protruding rivets in the joints died out after the middle of the 18th century. All in all, the type can be dated to the decades either side of 1750, though they may have continued in use for some time after this, as there is evidence for spectacl…
Created on: Wednesday 27th February 2008
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-7F70B6
Object type: SWORD
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An iron sword or dagger chape of late medieval or postmedieval date. The chape is straight sided with a rounded base, and has a flat, projecting terminal at its open end. It is heavily corroded, and has been varnished by the finder.
Created on: Wednesday 12th September 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-24A576
Object type: SPEAR
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An iron blade - probably a spearhead or railing spike - of postmedieval to modern date. It measures 20mm in basal width,187mm in length, 3.2mm in maximun thickness, and 91g in mass.
Created on: Thursday 2nd August 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Norfolk Broads', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NARC-181F06
Object type: PATTEN
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Buckinghamshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete iron shoe patten, dating to the postmedieval period. The patten measures 173mm in length, 68mm in width, and 27mm in depth. It weighs 106g. Although now very and corroded, the key features of the patten are still discernible. The oval frame has a uniform thickness and width throughout, and the remains of both protruding platforms, together with the remains of two large iron rivets on the underside, probably to help secure the patten to the shoe, in order to raise the feet from the ground in difficult walking conditions.
Created on: Tuesday 26th June 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-1807F3
Object type: AXE
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Buckinghamshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An iron blade from a medieval (13th- to 16th-century) carpenter's axe. The blade measures 156mm long 90mm high (from base of socket), and 16.4mm thick (maximum). It weighs 171g. According to Ward Perkins (1940) this axe is a Type II carpenter's axe.
Created on: Tuesday 26th June 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-01FC77
Object type: BUCKLE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A rectangular single-looped iron buckle, complete with pin. Corrosion has caused the pin to seize in the 'open' position. Measurements (mm); Buckle 36.5 x 41.5, Pin 36.4 x 4.3 (diameter). Mass 18.0g. Many buckles of this form date to the 17th and 18th centuries, when highly ornate shoe buckles became something of a status symbol. However, the simplicity of this example, and the material used (iron), suggest that it was a relatively inexpensive item, and may date to a later (c.19th century) period.
Created on: Sunday 1st April 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Between Corby and Deene', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NARC-01E575
Object type: BUCKLE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An asymmetrical sub-oval buckle of iron and another, unidentified metal alloy. The pin is now lost, and the buckle is highly corroded. The use of iron in buckles was common in the 18th and 19th centuries, and this example may relate to some form of harness.
Created on: Sunday 1st April 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Between Corby and Deene', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: NARC-1AABA0
Object type: LANCE
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A heavily corroded, angular spearhead of iron. It is difficult to date, but its form and socketed base suggest that it may well relate to a lance from the later medieval or early postmedieval period. The spearhead measures 118mm long, consisting of a 68mm long blade, with a 50mm long socket. The blade is 36m wide at its broadest point, with a thickness of 5mm (including corrosion product), while the socket has a diameter of 17mm. It weighs 66.5g.
Created on: Thursday 1st February 2007
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.