Objects of Iron
by Jörn Schuster, Peter Saunders and David Algar
INTRODUCTION
The ironwork in the collection is derived essentially from three sources. Firstly, there are objects
recovered from dateable contexts, particularly those from excavations at Old Sarum, Clarendon
Palace and the deserted medieval village at Gomeldon. Secondly, there are casual inds, notably
those from the foundation collection of the Museum, the Drainage Collection, comprising objects
recovered from the medieval drainage canals in Salisbury (for an overview of which see Saunders
2009). Thirdly, there are many un-associated inds from the River Avon within the city and from
other locations in south Wiltshire. Many of these objects are of forms virtually unchanged from the
medieval period until the advent of industrialisation. Of these, emphasis has been given to those
that can be dated on typological grounds and are thus most probably of medieval date. There is
further south Wiltshire material, much of which may too be of medieval origin but for which direct
evidence is lacking and which is thus omitted. This includes some of the iron objects recovered from
in and around King John’s House, Tollard Royal (Pitt Rivers 1890).
This catalogue follows broadly the order and classiication adopted by Ian Goodall in his general
survey of the products of the medieval blacksmith (Goodall 1981) and his doctoral thesis, Ironwork
in Medieval Britain: an archaeological survey, submitted in 1980 and recently published (Goodall 2011).
We greatly regret that Ian’s untimely death in 2006 prevented him contributing to this catalogue
as an author.
Where objects have been made of either iron or copper alloy it has been felt appropriate to catalogue them under the material most commonly used; thus locks and keys of copper alloy are included
here, identiied by (AE) within the description, while buckles, brooches, belt hooks, purse-frames and
jews’ harps of iron have been included in the section on copper alloy. For arms and armour and
spurs see Part 1 of this catalogue series (Borg 1991, 79-92 and Ellis 1991, 54-78).
Keys, with knives and shears, are particularly numerous. This is perhaps to be expected since very
many were recovered from the mid-nineteenth century drainage works (Drainage coll.) at a time when
inders would doubtless have been attracted to complete and recognisable objects, whereas today
less-appealing fragments would also be collected to enable a broader picture of material culture to
be constructed. Given that the wealth of medieval Salisbury was largely founded upon the woollen
industry, it is surprising that, apart from shears, so little evidence of textile manufacturing has been
collected, perhaps because such items as heckle teeth and tenter hooks have gone unrecognised.
Nevertheless, the collection as a whole includes a very wide range of iron objects and its signiicance
as a source of comparison is not to be under-valued.
Of particular note are the exceptionally rare shackles excavated from a grave within the Cathedral
at Old Sarum (Cat 238) and a number of pieces of constructional ironwork, including cramps and
tie bars, recovered during episodes of restoration on the spire of Salisbury Cathedral (Cat 82-4).
144
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
CATALOGUE
Evidence for iron manufacture
1 Seven smithing hearth bottoms. One is
plano-convex, D. 100-110mm, Th. 30mm, Wt.
c.620 g. Half of a second is D. c.135mm, Th. 30mm,
Wt. c.450 g. Found with fragments of slag and iron at
Winterbourne Dauntsey, recovered during widening
of the A338. 2010.30
These were associated with seven small
thirteenth-century sherds, including two glazed
fragments of Laverstock-type ineware. Smithing
hearth bottoms form in the blacksmith’s hearth
during the secondary working of iron and here
provide evidence of a medieval roadside smithy
at Winterbourne Dauntsey. In the absence of
metallurgical analysis the source of the raw
material remains uncertain, especially because
only very few contemporary primary production
sites where ore was smelted are known nationally
(Crossley 1981, 30-33). In Wiltshire iron smelting had been carried out at Ramsbury in the
Middle Saxon period (Haslam 1980), and only
a single medieval, probably twelfth/thirteenthcentury, site has been identiied, that at Clackers Brook, Melksham (Dungworth 2011). An
interesting thirteenth-century roadside smithy at
Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire with remains
of both furnaces and smithing hearths demonstrates that primary and secondary working did
not necessarily have to be spatially separated and
that the skills of iron making and blacksmithing
could be carried out by the same person (Crossley 1981, 31 and ig. 25).
Metal working tools
2 Hammer-head with two small iron wedges in
perforation. L. 85mm. From Old Sarum, east suburb
excavations, pit 1. 11th century. Stone and Charlton
1935, 184 and ig. 3, no. 1. OS.C92; 1934.111;
2000R.7
Fig 00
burring. L. 100mm. From Gomeldon, building 3.
13th-14th century. Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and
ig. 13, no. 29. 1967.148.5.20
Fig 00
There is another iron object from Gomeldon,
building 1 that has been described as a punch
(Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and ig. 13, no. 30),
but this attribution is considered doubtful.
4 Tongs. L. 197mm. One arm has a ball terminal.
Casual ind from Old Sarum. Goodall 2011, 12 no.
A23 and ig. 2.4. OS.D2; 2000R.34
Fig 00
These are most likely metalworker’s tongs but
other uses are possible, even tooth extraction.
Similar tongs have been found at Degannwy
Castle, Gwynedd (Goodall 1981, 51 and ig. 50,
no. 1) and at Faccombe Netherton (Fairbrother
1990, 403 and ig. 9.1, no. 10).
Wood working tools
Without a securely dated context utilitarian
objects like many woodworking tools have a
potentially wide date range: from the Roman
to the modern period. While there is a range
of tools found in Salisbury, they are not all demonstrably medieval.
5 Carpenter’s axe head. L. 192mm. W. of cutting
edge 304mm. Found while digging foundations
at Downton tannery. Stevens 1931, 489-90.
1930.176
Fig 00
Comparisons for such T-shaped axe heads
from London (Ward-Perkins 1940, 57-8 ig.
12, 3), Milk Street, London (Pritchard in Vince
1991, 137 ig. 3.14) and the Flixborough hoard
(Ottaway in Evans and Loveluck 2009, 262-4
igs 7.6-7) illustrate their date range, covering
the eighth to thirteenth century.
The head of a claw hammer was also
recorded in O.S. Diary 1910, 20 as having been
found in a garderobe pit within the castle.
6 Bearded axe head with winged socket and
square hammer butt. There is a maker’s mark of
three G’s on the cheek. L. 203mm. W. of cutting edge
188mm. Found during demolition work at Fisherton
Mill, Salisbury. Late medieval. Sal. Mus. Rep. 1970-1,
22 and pl. IVA. 1970.94
Fig 00
3 Square-ended punch; other end has slight
7 Gimlet. L. 95mm. Head of shaft is split and
Objects of Iron
145
ends are forged to form a hollow T-shaped grip.
Drainage coll. Egan 1998, 146 and ig. 114. SD340;
2007R.323
Fig 00
age coll. of a more elongated form, which are
considered to be post-medieval.
The T-shaped grip was an ideal handle form
for use with a rotary tool. There is also a damaged example from the Drainage coll. (SD343;
1999R.28.3).
Agricultural tools
8 Gimlet bit. L. 130mm. From Clarendon Palace.
Goodall 1988, 208 and ig. 73, no. 1.
1957.47
Fig 00
9 Auger spoon bit. L. 124mm. Drainage coll.
SD331; 1999R.23.5
Fig 00
This and four others from the Drainage coll.
(1999R.23.2 and .8-10) have wedge-shaped
narrowing tangs.
Stone working tools
10 Plummet. Circular section, with hook for attachment to a line. L. 172mm. From Clarendon
Palace, Goodall 1988, 208 and fig. 73, no. 2.
1957.47
Fig 00
Leather working tools
11 Tanged knife with upturned blade. L. (overall) 99mm. Found on allotments at Great Wishford.
Sal. Mus. Rep. 1967-8, 18 and pl. IIb. 1968.21
Fig 00
Perhaps ifteenth century. For a comparable
example from the Thames at Wandsworth see
Ward Perkins 1940, 52 and pl. xi, 4.
12 Currier’s knife blade. L. (overall) 135mm.
Blade-smith’s mark: H. Drainage coll. SD283;
2007R.214
Fig 00
For a comparable example, dated c.1400, see
Moore 1999, 77. There is another, similar but
much corroded, example (1999R.12.7) from
the Drainage coll.
There are two currier’s knives in material from
The Millstream, Salisbury, recovered in 1975,
which from the context must be ifteenth century
or later (2005.1), and fourteen from the Drain-
13 Sickle blade, parallel-sided, tip missing, cutting edge, L. (surviving) c.230mm. W. (max) 28mm.
Square-sectioned whittle tang, L. c.90mm. From
Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 208 and ig. 73,
no. 3. 1957.47
Fig 00
Knives, shears and scissors
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the
cutlers of Salisbury had their premises around
the Market Place or in the streets immediately adjacent to it, a pattern most probably
established in the medieval period. Sebode le
Cutiller is recorded as holder of a tenement in
Brown Street at the end of the thirteenth century (Wordsworth 1903, 146). The ‘increased
sophistication and self-consciousness of the
craftsmen themselves’, considered to be an important factor in the development of craft guilds
in the thirteenth century (Grew in Cowgill et al.
1987, viii-x), led to the appearance of cutlers’
marks on the blades of some knives and shears.
With regard to the detection of these marks on
blades, it should be noted that as a consequence
of further analysis by conservators of 25 blades
from London, it was found that about a third of
these had marks, inlays etc. that were not visible
from the x-radiographs (Egan in Cowgill et al.
2000, x). Unfortunately, no records of medieval
Salisbury cutlers’ marks have yet come to light
that would link the marks on blades in the collection to named cutlers.
In Salisbury, as early as September 1440, the
‘Cotelers’ were a part of a guild that included
pewterers and saddlers. These trades were
referred to in the minutes of a meeting called
by the Corporation in connection with raising
money to complete the city’s defences (Haskins
1912, 59-61). During the reign of Elizabeth
I this guild was united with that of the smiths
to form one company, which now included all
the metal working trades. ‘The Companye of
Smythes’ was the irst to be reconstituted under
146
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
the new Charter of Incorporation given to the
City by James I in 1612 (Haskins 1912, 370-1).
In the post-medieval period Salisbury cutlery
was to be compared favourably with that from
London and Shefield; in an old saying Salisbury
had become famed for:
The height of its steeple,
The pride of its people,
Its scissors and knives,
And diligent wives.
Knives
While no chronological assertions can be based
on the collection from Salisbury, it is clear from
other English sites (see, for example, London:
Cowgill et al. 1987; 2000, 25) that knife handles
before the early fourteenth century were virtually
all attached to whittle tangs. After a hiatus since
the Roman period, when scale-tang blades were
in widespread use throughout the empire, this
form of handle attachment becomes increasingly more common again during the fourteenth
century, having made its re-appearance around
the mid-thirteenth century (see, for example,
Winchester: Goodall 1990a, 838–9; compare
also Goodall in Margeson 1993, 128). While
scale tangs are lacking in the collection from
Coppergate, York, where substantial thirteenth
to fourteenth-century deposits had been excavated (Ottaway and Rogers 2002, 2751; 2762),
London provides the most extensive collection
from well-dated contexts (Cowgill et al. 1987;
2000), with other important collections for
instance from Winchester (Goodall 1990a)
and Norwich (Margeson 1993). Ian Goodall
developed a typological series for knives based on
shape (ten whittle-tang and six scale tang types,
see Goodall 2011, 106-8, ig. 8.2-3) but we have
relied on description rather than following him
since the original outlines of the majority of the
knives here are now uncertain.
Whittle-tang blades
The distinguishing feature of the whittle-tanged
knife is that it has a handle, typically cylindrical, knocked onto a tang. The latter is tapering
and usually of rectangular section and, in the
period considered here, is typically central to
the blade.
14 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, perhaps with
a slight channel. L. (surviving) 150mm. W. (max.)
21mm. Tang central to blade. L. (overall) 189mm.
From Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988, 211 and ig.
73, no. 4. 1957.47
Fig 00
15 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, sloping shoulder,
tip broken away. L. (surviving) 96mm. W. (max.)
20mm. Tang set slightly nearer line of back. L.
(overall) 139mm. Found in the east suburb of Old
Sarum during road construction, 1931-2. 1932.8;
OS.C136
16 Knife. Blade, slightly curved back, with a single
swage. L. (surviving) c.115mm. W. (max.) 23mm.
Tang central to blade. L. (overall) 160mm. From
Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 74,
no. 13. 1957.47
Fig 00
17 Knife. Blade, edge curving to straight back. L.
143mm. W. (max.) 20mm. Tang central to blade. L.
(overall) 184mm. Found under a medieval pottery
kiln at Laverstock. 13th century. 1967.145 Fig 00
18 Knife. Blade, with straight back and downward
sloping edge, end of blade missing, straight shoulder
and choil. Tang, L. 53mm, set slightly nearer line of
back. L. (overall surviving) 101mm. Drainage coll.
SD403; 1999R.888
Fig 00
Compare Cowgill et al. 1987, 86 no. 55 and
ig. 58 of early-mid fourteenth-century date.
19 Knife. Blade, with slightly curved back. L.
135mm. W. (max) 17mm at about the mid-point.
Cutler’s mark: ?crescent over an M, impressed twice.
Remains of parallel-sided tang, almost aligned with
the back of the blade. L. (overall) 156mm. Drainage
coll. SD402; 1999R.889
Fig 00
20 Knife. Blade, curved back, lacking tip. L. (surviving) 103mm. W. 15mm. Tang central to blade. L.
(overall) 162mm. From Clarendon Palace, Goodall
1988, 211 and ig. 74, no. 15. 1957.47 Fig 00
21 Knife. Blade, with triangular section and slightly
Objects of Iron
curved back, Th. (max) 4mm.; sloping shoulder. L.
82mm. W. (max) 11mm. Square tang, central to
blade. L. (overall) 100mm. Drainage coll. SD400;
1999R.886
Fig 00
For a comparable blade of late thirteenthcentury date see Cowgill et al. 1987, 82 no. 28
and ig. 55.
22 Knife. Blade, slightly curved back. L. (surviving)
92mm. W. (max.) 14mm. Square tang, central to
blade. L. (overall) 140mm. From Clarendon Palace,
Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 73, no. 7. 1957.47
Fig 00
23 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, lacking tip, back
has a swage on both sides along entire remaining
length, sloping shoulder. L. (surviving) 61mm. W.
(max) 13mm. Cutler’s mark: T, inlaid with copper
alloy. Tang central to blade. L. (overall) 125mm. From
Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 74,
no. 14. 1957.47.33
Fig 00
This is the only blade from Clarendon Palace
with a visible cutler’s mark.
There are seven other whittle-tang blades from
Clarendon Palace: see Goodall 1988, 211.
24 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, tip broken off, but
wear suggests it continued to be used. L. (surviving)
90mm. W. (max) 16mm. Trace of cutler’s mark.
Copper-alloy hilt plate. Tang extends beyond the
end of a bone handle, the end cap of which is missing. The handle, which is set in line with the back of
the blade, has its end decorated with 6 ring-and-dot
patterns set between 2 transverse lines. L. (overall)
170mm. From the River Avon, Bridge Street, Salisbury. 1993.1
Fig 00
25 Knife. Blade, parallel-sided, the back sloping
down to the tip. L. (surviving) 180mm. W. 36mm.
Tang central to blade. L. (overall) 231mm. Excavated in Brown Street, Salisbury. 13th to early 14th
century. Loader 2000, 29. 2006R.1
Fig 00
X-radiography suggests construction from
iron with a steel cutting edge.
26 Knife. Blade, straight-backed. L. 127mm. W.
147
(max.) 36mm. Possible traces of a sheath. The stub
of the central tang has traces of a wooden handle.
The lack of rivets suggests that this is the remains
of a whittle-tang knife. L. (overall) 155mm. From
excavations in the east suburb at Old Sarum 1958,
bottom of pit 1. 12th-13th century. Musty and Rahtz
1964, 143 and ig. 5, no. 4. OS.C58; 1963.76
Fig 00
27 Knife. Blade, parallel-sided with the back curving
down to the tip. Slight groove, parallel with the back,
on both sides; sloping shoulder. L. 105mm. W. (max.
surviving) 22mm. Tang central to blade. L. (overall)
150mm. ?Drainage coll. 2007R.230
Fig 00
28 Knife. Blade, back curving down to the tip.
Straight cutting-edge. L. 130mm. W. (max.) 24mm.
Cutler’s mark: irregular X, inlaid with copper alloy.
Stub of probable whittle tang aligned with the back
of the blade. L. (overall surviving) 142mm. From Old
Sarum, possibly the knife found in 1910 near the east
end of the ‘hall’. ?14th century. O.S. Diary 1910, 24.
1920-1.30; OS.C139
Fig 00
29 Knife. Blade, triangular, with straight back sloping down to the tip. L. 82mm. W. (max.) 22mm. Tang
central to blade. L. (overall) 133mm. Found in the
east suburb of Old Sarum during road construction,
1931-2. 1932.8; OS.C137
Fig 00
30 Knife. Blade, probably parallel-sided. L. (surviving) 20mm. Oval-sectioned horn handle, L. 82mm,
rough iling marks from rasp all over surface. From
the River Avon, Bridge Street, Salisbury. 1993.1
Fig 00
A similarly-shaped handle comes from Billingsgate Lorry Park, London, but this one is
attached to a scale tang (Cowgill et al. 1987, 95
no. 133 and ig. 65).
Scale-tang blades
The scale-tanged knife has a handle made using scales or plates, typically of wood, bone or
horn, afixed to a lat tang, which extends to the
whole length of the handle. More components
are required for this type of knife than the
whittle-tang and thus greater opportunity exists
for decoration.
148
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
31 Knife. Blade, straight-backed and with plain
copper-alloy shoulder plates extending beyond irst
rivet. L. 103mm. W. (max) 14mm. Tang is in line
with the back of blade and has bone scales held by
3 small iron rivets and top end of scales with at least
4 notches. L. (overall) 194mm. Found in the Millstream, Salisbury. 1986.8
Fig 00
Compare a knife from Barentin’s Manor,
Chalgrove, Oxfordshire, from an early to
mid-fourteenth-century context, which has
undulating scale ends with one notch but open
rivets (Page et al. 2005, 94 ig. 3.17, 15), and
an example from Swan Lane, London from an
early to mid-ifteenth century context, with two
grooves at the scale end (Cowgill et al. 1987, 102
no. 264 and ig. 66).
36 Knife. Blade, narrow tapering blade, slightly
curved, tip missing. L. 143mm. W. (max) 13mm.
Tang in line with back of blade, incomplete, with 1
surviving rivet. L. (overall surviving) 172mm. From
excavations in the east suburb at Old Sarum 1958.
13th-14th century Sal. Mus. Rep. 1962-3, 23 and
pl. Ib, Musty and Rahtz 1964, 143 and ig. 5, no.
3. OS.C56; 1963.75
Fig 00
37 Knife. Blade, parallel-sided, broken tip. L.
95mm. W. 18mm. Tang in line with back of blade
and retaining 2 iron rivets. L. (overall surviving)
156mm. From Gomeldon, building 1. Musty and
Algar 1986, 154 and ig. 13, no. 26 (where drawing
incorrectly shows three holes rather than two rivets).
1967.148.5.19.2
32 Knife. Blade, straight-backed and pointed, with
decorated copper-alloy shoulder plates. L. 87mm. W.
(max) 10mm. Cutler’s mark. Flat tang in line with
back of blade, scales absent and no rivets apparent. L.
(overall) 132mm. Drainage coll. iiC21; 1999R.883
38 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, parallel-sided,
angled down to tip. L. 110mm. W. 17mm. Tang
broken away at the irst rivet hole. L. (overall surviving) 114mm. From Gomeldon, building 6. Late
13th-14th century. Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and
ig. 13, no. 25. 1967.148.5.19.1
33 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, incomplete, probably parallel-sided, and with copper-alloy shoulder
plates extending beyond irst rivet. L. (surviving)
65mm. W. (max) 15mm. Tang in line with back of
blade, wooden scales fastened with three remaining
iron rivets. L. (surviving) 136mm. From the River
Avon, Bridge Street, Salisbury. 1993.1
39 Knife. Blade fragment, L. c.25mm. Handleshaped tang, in line with back of blade, 4 iron rivets.
L. (overall surviving) 141mm. From Clarendon
Palace, Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 74, no. 17.
1957.47
Fig 00
See a late fourteenth-century example from
London (Cowgill et al. 1987, 95 no. 122 and
ig. 64).
There is a fragment of one other scale-tang
blade from Clarendon Palace: see Goodall
1988, 211 and ig. 74 no. 18.
34 Knife. Blade, back curving down to the tip, with
copper-alloy shoulder plates. L. (surviving) 67mm. W.
15mm. Broken parallel-sided tang in line with back
of blade, bone/wood scales and single rivet remaining. L. (overall surviving) 110mm. From Clarendon
Palace, Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 74, no. 19.
1957.47
Fig 00
40 Knife. Blade. L. (surviving) 8mm. Tang with
wooden scales held by 3 rivets, probably copper-alloy.
L. 81mm. From the site of the Franciscan Friary,
Salisbury. Sal. Mus. Rep. 1969-70, 19. 1969.81.15
35 Knife. Blade, slightly curved back, tip missing.
L. (surviving) 102mm. W. (max) 14mm. Tang in
line with back of blade and rounded at the end, 3
tubular copper-alloy rivets. L. (overall) 194mm. From
Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 74,
no. 16. 1957.47
Fig 00
Compare Cowgill et al. 1987, 95 no. 133
and ig. 65. Late fourteenth century.
41 Knife. Blade, straight-backed and slender. L.
70mm. W. (max) 9mm. Tang in line with back of
blade with ?bone scales in the shape of the tang, held
with 3 iron rivets; small choil still in place when irst
seen, now missing. L. (overall surviving) 143mm.
From the River Avon, Bridge Street, Salisbury.
1993.1
Objects of Iron
42 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, tip missing. L.
68mm. W. (max surviving) 12mm. Tang in line
with back of blade, with bone scales, expanded and
serrated at the end, held by 3 rivets. L. (overall surviving) 138mm. From excavations in the east suburb at
Old Sarum 1958. 13th-14th century. Sal. Mus. Rep.
1962-3, 23 and pl. Ib, Musty and Rahtz 1964, 143
and ig. 5, no. 2. OS.C57; 1963.75
Fig 00
43 Knife. Blade, parallel-sided. L. 64mm. W. (max)
11mm. Tang in line with back of blade, with 4 rivet
holes and oval copper-alloy end plate. L. (overall)
147mm. Drainage coll. Late medieval. SD417;
1999R.900
Fig 00
The tip of the blade was probably broken
and the blade end subsequently rounded for
further use. For a similarly tanged blade compare
Cowgill et al. 1987, 95 no. 137 and ig. 65.
44 Knife. Blade, straight-backed. L. 65mm. W.
(max) 14mm. Cutler’s mark, copper-alloy inlaid.
Tang in line with back of blade, with 4 rivets and
part of a bone scale. L. (overall) 141mm. From Old
Sarum excavations 1909-15. 14th-15th century.
Goodall 2011, 140 no. G304 and ig. 8.20. 19201.30; OS.C142
Fig 00
45 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, pointed. L.
100mm. W. (max) 14mm. Tang in line with back of
blade, with 4 rivet holes. L. (overall) 182mm. From
Old Sarum excavations 1909-15. 14th-15th century.
Goodall 2011, 140 no. G305 and ig. 8.20. 19201.30; OS.C141
Fig 00
46 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, cutting edge rises
to tip. Copper-alloy shoulder plates. L. 126mm. W.
(max) 19mm. Cutler’s mark. Tang in line with back of
blade. Parts of both scales, of leather, held by 4 rivets,
end cap missing. L. (overall) 222mm. ?Drainage coll.
iiC45; 2007R.237
Fig 00
Compare similar tang shapes from late
fourteenth-century contexts in London (Cowgill
et al. 1987, 95 no. 122–3 and ig. 64).
47 Knife. Blade, parallel-sided, broken end.
Copper-alloy shoulder plates up to irst rivet L. (surviving) 54mm. W. 13mm. Tang in line with back of
149
blade, bone scales with 3 iron rivets and ?copper-alloy
lined end hole for suspension, thick copper-alloy oval
end plate, tang protruding as end knob. L. (overall)
134mm. Drainage coll. SD415; 1999R.898
Compare Cowgill et al. 1987, 105 no. 308
and ig. 68 for an undated London example and
Goodall in Margeson 1993, 130 ig. 95, 855 for
a Norwich tang dated 1550-1700.
48 Knife. Blade, ‘scramasax’ derivative. Serrated
weld line between steel cutting edge and iron back.
Groove along one side parallel to and near back of
blade. L. 138mm. W. (max) 23mm. Tang in line with
back of blade, 3 rivet holes and bone end-pieces held
by a single pin. L. (overall) 222mm. Drainage coll.
SD405; 2007R.232
Fig 00 & cover
For shape of blade only, compare Ward
Perkins 1940, pl. 11, 5. See Cowgill et al. 1987,
95 no. 136 and ig. 65 for a similar two-part
welded blade.
49 Knife. Blade, straight-backed and parallel-sided,
tip missing. L. (surviving) 117mm. W. (max) 16mm.
Tang in line with back of blade, with 3 rivets hold
bone/wood scales and a protruding ‘rustic’ end-piece
of copper-alloy. L. (overall) 185mm. Unprovenanced.
iiC26; 2007R.243
Fig 00
50 Knife. Blade, straight-backed triangular. L.
110mm. W. (max) 13mm. Cutler’s mark. Shoulder
plates. Tang in line with back of blade. Wooden scales
held by 3 copper-alloy washered rivets and decorated
with copper-alloy pins. L. (overall) 188mm. Drainage
coll. 2007R.239; iiC19
Fig 00
51 Knife. Blade, incomplete, straight-backed. L.
(surviving) 69mm. W. (surviving) 18mm Cutler’s
mark. Copper-alloy shoulder plates, held by irst rivet.
?bone scales with 14 decorative tubular iron rivets
in line along entire length of handle with 4 set in a
lozenge pattern near the end. From the River Avon,
Salisbury. Late 14th century. 1987.211.1 Fig 00
Compare knives from Meols (Grifiths et al.
2007, 207 pl. 39, 2686) and a late fourteenthcentury context at Baynard’s Castle Dock,
London (Cowgill et al. 1987, 95 no. 126 and
ig. 64).
150
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
52 Knife. Blade, straight-backed L. 74mm. W.
(max) 16mm. Cutler’s mark. Decorated copper-alloy
shoulder plate. Tang in line with back of blade; 6
rivet holes, two larger ones placed centrally and a
pair of smaller ones near each end; 3 rivets survive;
large heart-shaped opening below end plate, which
is decorated with 2 saltires set in squares; L. (overall)
165mm. Drainage coll. ?Late 15th-16th century.
iiC6; 2007R.244
Fig 00
The proile of the back of this knife is noticeable for its gentle curve. Compare Moore 1999,
294 where a tang with a similar heart-shaped
perforation is illustrated.
53 Knife. Blade stub. L. 13mm. W. (max) 16mm.
Decorated copper-alloy shoulder plates. Tang incomplete with at least 9 cylindrical perforations, 4 of
which retain decorative tubular copper-alloy rivets.
L. (surviving) 81mm. From the River Avon, Bridge
Street, Salisbury. 1993.1
Fig 00
54 Knife. Scale tang, broken away at irst of three
rivet holes. The end is rounded and has a larger
hole containing a tubular copper-alloy rivet, and a
U-shaped copper-alloy end plate. L. 100mm. From
the River Avon, Bridge Street, Salisbury. Probably
late ifteenth century.1993.1
Cat 53-4 come from late in the period considered in this catalogue. Comparable examples
include a knife handle with three tubular rivets
comes from Old Council House, Bristol, found
in a context dated late ifteenth century to 1675
(Jackson 2007, 67 ig. 26, 4). Two handle
fragments from Barentin’s Manor, Chalgrove,
Oxfordshire, come from contexts dated late
fourteenth to early ifteenth century and mid
to late ifteenth century respectively (Page et
al. 2005, 94 ig. 3.17. 22–23). A knife with
a closely comparable ornamental pattern of
similarly arranged tubular rivets was found
at Nürings castle near Falkenstein, Taunus,
Germany, probably destroyed in 1366, thus
corroborating the date range of the Chalgrove
knives (Müller 1996, 156 Abb. 2, 7). An undated knife with only one perforated rivet near
the end of the handle, probably for suspension
from the belt, and a ?tin/lead alloy shoulder
plate comes from London (Cowgill et al. 1987,
105 no. 308 and ig. 68).
Cat 55-62 comprise a group of late medieval
knives, all from Salisbury, which are characterised by base-metal illets soldered around
the edges of their tangs. It has been suggested
(Moore 1999, 267) that the style belongs to a
group of precursors of the Flemish import period and, on the basis of the discovery in Salisbury
of knives of a Flemish/Dutch style, that local
cutlers may have copied the style or even that
possibly a Flemish or Dutch cutler was able to set
up in business in Salisbury. No direct evidence,
however, has been found to corroborate this.
Such knives were popular imports in London in
the ifteenth century (Moore 1999, 70-2) and
may equally have been so in Salisbury.
55 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, curving down to
point. L. 121mm. W. (max) 15mm. Cutler’s mark.
Tang in line with back of blade, with latten or pewter
edging strips creating recesses into which the scales
would have itted; 3 rivet holes and a larger hole (?for
suspension) near expanded end. L. (overall) 198mm.
Drainage coll. Moore 1999, 267 and irst pl. on 269,
[no.1]. iiC18
Fig 00
56 Knife. Blade, broken. L. 35mm. Copper-alloy
shoulder plates. Tang expands towards a scalloped
end, 4 rivet holes, 2 with iron rivets surviving. Sides
bound with decorative copper-alloy edging, with separate piece shaped for the end. L. (overall) 110mm.
From the River Avon, Bridge Street, Salisbury. Probably late ifteenth century. 1993.1
Fig 00
57 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, edge curves up to
point. L. 117mm. W. (max) 14mm. Cutler’s mark.
Tang with copper-alloy shoulder plates and a scalloped end plate, linked with plain latten or pewter
edging strips, which create recesses into which scales
would have itted; 3 rivet holes, one of which contains
a tubular rivet and traces of wooden scale on one
side. L. (overall) 199mm. Leather sheath, damaged,
impressed with two opposed plant-like devices. L.
(surviving) 117mm. W. c.17mm. Drainage coll. iiC31;
1999R.905
Fig 00
Objects of Iron
58 Knife. Blade, broken and parallel-sided. L.
30mm. W. 13mm. Tang in line with back of blade,
wooden scales framed within a latten or pewter edging
strip; at the lat end the tip of the tang just protrudes.
L. (overall surviving) 116mm. From the River Avon,
Bridge Street, Salisbury. 1993.1
Fig 00
59 Knife. Blade, straight-backed, cutting edge
curves up to tip. L. 79mm. W. (max) 10mm. Tang in
line with back of blade, with copper-alloy shoulder
plates and an edging, decorated with impressed design
reminiscent of wrigglework. L. (overall) 138mm.
Drainage coll. iiC17; 2007R.241
Fig 00
60 Knife. Blade, straight-backed and parallelsided. L. 99mm. W. 13mm. Tang in line with back
of blade, copper-alloy shoulder plates, oval end-cap
and an edging decorated with impressed design
reminiscent of wrigglework; tang end protrudes as
a simple ‘tenon’. L. (overall) 175mm. Moore 1999,
267 and pl. on 269, [no. 2]. Drainage coll. SD409;
1999R.892
61 Knife. Blade, parallel-sided. L. 96mm. W.
11mm. Tang in line with back of blade, copper-alloy
shoulder plates; surviving part of copper-alloy edging, decorated with impressed design reminiscent of
wrigglework. End cap missing. L. (overall) 169mm.
Moore 1999, 267 and pl. on 269, [no. 3]. Drainage
coll. SD411; 1999R.894
This and Cat 60 may be from the same
maker.
62 Knife. Blade, parallel-sided. L. 123mm. W.
15mm. ?Cutler’s mark. Tang in line with back of
blade, copper-alloy shoulder plates, edging strips
decorated with impressed design reminiscent of
wrigglework; notched terminal topped by an ovoid
inial. Wooden scales. L. (overall) 208mm. Drainage
coll. iiC16; 2007R.238
Fig 00
63 Knife-dagger. Blade, symmetrical but with
a single cutting edge. L. 90mm. W. (max) 17mm.
Cutler’s mark. Copper-alloy shoulder plates forming
a waisted cylinder, L. 19mm. Tang, slightly tapering,
with 4 rivet holes, shaped end. W. (max) 14mm. L.
95mm. ?Drainage coll. SD406; 2007R.233
Fig 00
151
See Moore 1999, second pl. on 73, [no. 3],
and comparable hilt on knife-dagger from the
Thames at Westminster (Ward Perkins 1940,
53 and pl. 12, 5).
64 Knife tang, broken. L. 50mm. One rivet hole
visible, copper-alloy end plates with incised linear
decoration, different on both sides. From the River
Avon, Bridge Street, Salisbury. 1993.1
Fig 00
Fifteenth century. The decoration on the
plaques is crude and simple; examples are known
with images such as saints, animals and birds.
The plaques were probably engraved separately
and then applied to the knife. Here the shoulder
of the knife has not survived but on such knives
found in London and Holland some have their
shoulders cut and engraved, often with a row
of feathers (see, for example, Moore 1999, 72
and plate on 70).
Knife terminals and inials were to become more
ornate or elaborate in the Tudor period and the
collection includes some that we have omitted in
the absence of secure dateable contexts.
Shears
There are over thirty pairs of shears in the collection. This may in part relect the importance
of Salisbury as a textile production centre in
medieval times. Smaller examples were probably used domestically for cutting light-weight
fabric, thread and hair while larger ones would
have been used in the cloth industry or for
sheep-shearing.
Shears comprise two blades, two arms and
a sprung bow. The blades taper to points or
have angled tips. Once invented, shears display
little change over time and their dating often
depends upon non-essential features. Thus it
can be dificult to determine where, within the
medieval/post-medieval continuum, a particular
pair, without context, is located. Late fourteenthcentury blades frequently have slightly curved
backs, often with a cutler’s mark on one or both
blades, and sometimes multiple cusps. Early to
mid ifteenth-century blades tend to become narrower with straighter backs. The backs are oc-
152
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
casionally decorated. The arms are plain or have
recesses, the latter being cusped and sometimes
notched. Bows are characteristic of medieval
shears; a central rib becomes a common feature
by the early fourteenth century.
65 Shears, one arm broken and blade missing,
L. 209mm. Blade, with pointed tip, L. 87mm. W.
(max) 17mm. From Old Sarum, east suburb excavations, pit 1. Apparently 11th or 12th century. Stone
and Charlton 1935, 184 and ig. 3, no. 2. OS.C93;
1934.111
Fig 00
Ward Perkins 1940, 153 and ig. 48 no. 2
cited this as one of his dated series of shears
because of its association with a coin of William I.
66 Shears, lacking the ends of both blades, L. (max
surviving) 92mm. Blade, parallel-sided, L. (surviving)
43mm. W. 10mm. Single cusp. From Old Sarum, found
in 1910 in garderobe pit no. 2. O.S. Diary 1910, 24. Proc.
Soc. Antiq. 23, 514. OS.C28; 2000R.26
Fig 00
A thirteenth to early fourteenth-century
date is likely, given their association within the
garderobe pit-group.
67 Four fragmentary pairs of shears, all slender. These are L. (overall) c.150mm and have blades
L. c.90mm. W. 10mm, one with tapering tips. From
Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 75,
nos. 25-8. 1957.47
These shears, being small, are likely to have
been for domestic or personal use.
68 Shears, tips broken, L. (max surviving) 228mm.
Blades taper, L. (surviving) 107mm. W. (max) 25mm.
From Gomeldon, in a post-hole of building 2. 12th
century. Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and ig. 13,
no. 22. 1964.69
As this is one of the largest shears in the collection, and from a rural context, it is likely to
have been used for shearing sheep.
69 Shears, L. 217mm. Blades have slightly curved
backs and pointed tips, L. 102mm. W. (max) 23mm.
One blade bears two cutler’s marks. Concave-sectioned bow and slight trace of a single cusp. Drainage
coll. SD295; 2007R.288
Fig 00
Compare a smaller pair from an early to mid
thirteenth-century context in London (Cowgill
et al. 1987, 106 no. 312 and ig. 70).
70 Shears, L. 84mm. Blades have pointed tips, L.
42mm. W. (max) 8mm. Single cusp and slight ridge to
bow. From Avon Approach, Salisbury. 1957.110.2
Fig 00
There is another, longer example, from River
Avon, Crane Bridge, Salisbury (1963.26.6).
Compare Cowgill et al. 1987, 108 no. 337
and 111 no. 342 and ig. 73. Late fourteenth
century.
71 Shears, L. 140mm. Narrow blades, straightbacked with angled tips, L. 78mm. W. (max) 9mm.
Cutler’s mark: ive-point star inlaid with copper alloy
on one blade. Single cusp. Drainage coll. SD292;
2007R.284
Fig 00
There is a similar pair, slightly shorter, from
the River Avon, Fisherton Bridge, Salisbury
(1957.9.3) that has a single surviving blade,
the metallurgy of which was examined by R.
F. Tylecote in 1981 revealing that ‘a very small
piece of steel has been welded to the edge’
(typescript in Museum). There is another from
the Drainage Collection of the same form but
198mm in length (SD290; 2007R.280).
72 Shears, ends of both blades snapped off, L.
(max) surviving 101mm. Blades parallel-sided, L.
(max surviving) 54mm. W. (max) 8mm. There is a
complex series of cusps and notches. Bow has central
rib. Drainage coll. SD287; 1999R.16.1
Fig 00
See Cowgill et al. 1987, 108 no. 334 and ig.
72 for a late fourteenth-century example with
similar multiple notches from London.
73 Shears, L. 130mm. Narrow, slightly tapering
blades have angled tips, L. 72mm. W. (max) 9mm.
One blade has a partly obliterated cutler’s mark, perhaps a letter T. Single cusp. The arms are decorated
with a series of notches along the edges. Bow has
central rib. Drainage coll. SD293; 2007R.285
Fig 00
Compare Cowgill et al. 1987, 112 no. 359
Objects of Iron
and ig. 73, which comes from an early to mid
ifteenth-century context in London.
74 Shears, L. 96mm. Blades have slightly curved
backs and pointed tips, L. 47mm. W. (max) 11mm.
Cutler’s mark: X within a circle on one blade. One Vshaped notch. Drainage coll. SD291; 2007R.286
Fig 00
75 Shears, incomplete, one arm, broken at the bow,
L. (surviving) 132mm. Blade has a very slight curve
at the back tapering to a sharp point, L. 74mm. W.
(max) 10mm. Cutler’s mark: X. Single cusp. Drainage
coll. SD297; 1999R.16.3
Fig 00
76 Shears, L.106mm. Blades, slender, straightbacked, almost parallel-sided, with angled tips, L.
62mm. W. 7-8mm. Slight ridge to bow. Drainage
coll. SD300; 1999R.16.6
Fig 00
There is a similar but longer example from
Avon Approach, Salisbury (1957.110.1).
77 Shears, L. 130mm. Blades, straight-backed,
slightly tapering to angled tips, L. 71mm. W. (max)
9mm. Single moulded cusp. There is duck-beak
moulding at the junction of the bow with the arm.
Drainage coll. SD288; 2007R.281
Fig 00
A small pair of shears from the Museum of
London reserve collection has faint mouldings
below the bow and only very faint single cusps
(Cowgill et al. 1987, 112 no. 366 and ig. 74).
78 Shears, L. 100mm. Blades, straight-backed with
angled tips, L. 53mm. W. (max) 11mm. Single cusp.
Drainage coll. SD289; 2007R.283
Cover
Scissors
Compared to shears, scissors are much rarer in
the medieval period (Øye 1988, 107-9; Ottaway
and Rogers 2002, 2741).
79 Scissors, tips missing, L. (surviving) 128mm.
Blades, L. 72mm. Ends of the arms, squaresectioned, are thinned and bent outwards to form
looped handles. From Gomeldon, area of building
1. Possibly 16th century. Sal. Mus. Rep. 1964-5, 20
and pl. II; Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and ig. 13,
no. 23. 1964.78
153
80 Scissors, L. 152mm. Blade L. 88mm. Cutler’s
mark below rivet on both blades. Round looped
handles with square-shaped section, and roundsectioned arms, central to blades. Drainage coll.
SD305; 2007R.298
Fig 00
Compare similar scissors from fourteenthcentury contexts in York and London (Ottaway
and Rogers 2002, 2740, ig. 1347, 13741;
Cowgill et al. 1987, 114 no. 370 and ig. 75).
Building ironwork
The construction and itting out of medieval
buildings required the extensive use of iron. The
objects catalogued are almost without exception
from the excavations at Old Sarum, Clarendon
Palace and Gomeldon. They may be used to illustrate the variable types of ironwork peculiar
to different classes of site.
Cramps
These were used to secure dressed stones within
walls, especially where there was an overhang in
the structure, and were sometimes encased in
lead to hold them fast and to provide protection
from corrosion.
81 Cramp. L. 126mm; section rectangular, 11mm
x 4mm. From Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988, 211
and ig. 75, no. 29. 1957.47
Fig 00
82 Three cramps encased in lead caulking. L.
240mm, 250mm and 265mm; section c.20mm
square. Removed from the second band of decoration
on Salisbury Cathedral spire during its restoration in
1991. 1991.20.1-3
Fig 00
Such cramps were used to join blocks of
stone within the spire walls both horizontally and
vertically (see Tatton-Brown 1996, 61 and pl.
18b). On the basis that the cramps are original
they are most probably dateable to the 1320s
(see Tatton-Brown 2009, 95-6).
Tie bars
There are two, both from Salisbury Cathedral
spire; each was used in conjunction with a wedge
and washers to tie structural ironwork together.
See Tatton-Brown 1996, ig. 3 facing 62, stage
10 for the principle of their use.
154
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
83 Tie bar. L. 386mm. D. 22mm. Removed from
Salisbury Cathedral spire, originally with 5 nails (Cat
108-9) and a section of oak. Early 14th century,
probably 1320s. 1945.130
Fig 00
89 Wall anchor. L. 158mm; section rectangular,
18mm x 9mm, blunt point at one end. From Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 75, no. 30.
1957.47
Fig 00
84 Tie bar. Similar to Cat 83. L. 470mm. Recovered from Salisbury Cathedral spire in 1944, together
with nail (Cat 107). Early 14th century, probably
1320s. 1952.25
Staples
Large, rectangular staples (timber dogs) were
used to hold adjacent timbers together. Smaller,
usually U-shaped, staples were suitable to hold
chains or hasps and to support handles on doors
and chests.
Wall-hooks
These are all-purpose hooks with tapering shanks
driven into timber or into masonry joints.
85 Wall-hook with curved hook arising from the
end of the shank. L. 65mm. From Clarendon Palace,
Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 75, no. 32. 1957.47;
2000R.87.4
Fig 00
86 Wall-hook with tip missing and end of shank
bent. L. 56mm. From Clarendon Palace. Goodall
1988, 211 and ig. 75, no.31. 2000R.87.3
87 Wall-hook with pronounced stub; curved hook
arising before the end of the shank. L. 120mm. From
Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 75,
no. 35. 1957.47
Fig 00
See also Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 75,
no.33-4 for two other examples from Clarendon
Palace, and Goodall 2000, 143 ig. 6.20, 38
for one from Ludgershall Castle. An iron gutter
support from Fishergate in York is of essentially
similar form but larger and with an oval end
plate at the wide end to hold the gutter in place
(Ottaway and Rogers 2002, 2831-2 ig. 1409
no. 15028; ig. 1411).
88 Wall-hook, very similar to above. L. 143mm.
Found in the east suburb of Old Sarum during road
construction, 1931-2. 1932.8; OS.C113 Fig 00
Wall anchor
This has a substantial tang, which is driven into
a masonry joint to secure a major structural
element.
90 Staple of rectangular form. L. 45mm. From
Clarendon Palace 1934, Goodall 1988, 211 and ig.
75, no. 36. 1957.47
Fig 00
There are two other staples from Clarendon
Palace (Goodall 1988, 211 and ig. 75, nos.
37-8).
91 Staple of U-shape form. L. 64mm. From Gomeldon, building 7 complex. Musty and Algar 1986, ig.
14, no. 11. 1967.148.5.13.1
Fig 00
There are three other staples from Gomeldon.
Nails
Nails from Old Sarum:
92 Flaring square-headed nail. L. 114mm.
Head 20mm x 17mm. Found in the east suburb
of Old Sarum during road construction, 1931-2.
1932.8; OS.C118
Fig 00
93 Round-headed nail. L. of shank 74mm. Head
D. 33mm. From the east suburb of Old Sarum.
1937.74; OS.C102
94 T-headed nail. L. of shank 77mm. Head
19mm x 8mm. Found in the east suburb of Old
Sarum during road construction, 1931-2. 1932.8;
OS.C119
Fig 00
95 Headless nail of rectangular section, L.
40mm. From Old Sarum excavations 1909-15.
1920-1.30; OS.C146
Fig 00
There are also ive other similar nails, ranging in length from 30mm to 50mm.
Objects of Iron
96 Cofin nails, many with traces of timber remaining. From Old Sarum, east suburb excavations,
grave 2. Stone and Charlton 1935, 183. 2002R.4
155
from the deserted medieval village:
Nails from Clarendon Palace (1957.47):
104 Rectangular-headed nails. Shank lengths
36mm - 72mm. Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and
ig. 14 (types 1-3).
97 Square-headed nail with rectangular shank.
L. of shank 68mm. Head 15mm x 15mm. Goodall
1988, 216 and ig. 76, no. 39.
Fig 00
105 Square-headed nails. Shank lengths 28mm
- 72mm. Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and ig. 14
(types 4-7).
98 Square-headed nail with square tapering
shank. L. of shank 125mm. Head 22mm x 22mm,
lat. Goodall 1988, 216 and ig. 76, no. 40.
Fig 00
106 Round-head nails. Shank lengths 36mm
- 40mm. Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and ig. 14
(types 8-10).
Other nails:
99 Slightly-domed circular-headed nail with
square tapering shank. L. of shank c.65mm, clenched
at 40mm. D. of head c.25mm. A larger-headed example than Goodall 1988, 216 and ig. 76, no. 41.
Fig 00
100 Flaring rectangular-headed nail with
tapering rectangular shank. L. of shank 104mm.
Head 20mm x 12mm. Goodall 1988, 216 and ig.
76, no. 42.
Fig 00
See also Cat 243 for an example used
through a binding strip.
101 Faceted rectangular-headed nail with
rectangular tapering shank. L. of shank 130mm.
Head 22mm x 22mm with 4 facets. Goodall 1988,
216 and ig. 76, no. 44.
Fig 00
102 Flat-topped diamond-shaped headed
nail with square tapering shank. L. of shank 100mm.
Head 17mm x 17mm. Goodall 1988, 216 and ig.
76, no. 45.
Fig 00
103 Raised faceted circular-headed nail with
tapering square shank. L. of shank 143mm. D. of
head c.35mm. Goodall 1988, 216 and ig. 76, no.
46.
Fig 00
Nails from Gomeldon (1967.148):
Apart from horseshoe nails (see Cat 286-7
below), three types of nail, all with rectangular
or square cross-section shanks, were recovered
107 Nail with multi-faceted, round head (D. 35mm),
shank rectangular and tapering. L. (overall) 240mm.
Removed from Salisbury Cathedral spire in 1944.
Early 14th century, probably 1320s. 1952.25
Fig 00
See also Cat 84.
108 Four nails with multi-faceted, round heads
(D. 25-30mm), shanks rectangular and tapering.
L. (overall) 150-230mm. Removed from Salisbury
Cathedral spire. Early 14th century, probably 1320s.
1945.130
109 Nail with multi-faceted, rectangular head
(40mm x 30mm), shank rectangular and tapering
from 20mm x 13mm. L. (overall) 310mm, clenched
at 265mm. Removed from Salisbury Cathedral spire.
Early 14th century, probably 1320s.1945.130
Fig 00
110 Three nails. T-headed, with rectangular
shank. L. of shank 55-58mm, one clenched at
42mm. Head c.13mm x 28mm. Detached from a
chest of probably late 15th-century date used by
Salisbury Corporation. 1974.63
Fig 00
See Cat 11, page 00 and ig. 00, for the
chest.
Studs
111 Rectangular-headed stud with curved top
surface and rectangular shank. L. of shank 54mm.
156
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
Head 54mm x 51mm. From Clarendon Palace,
Goodall 1988, 216 and ig. 76, no. 47. 1957.47
Fig 00
There is another from Clarendon Palace with
a shorter shank, and others, not deinitely medieval: two from the Drainage coll. (2000R.45.2-3)
and six from King John’s House, Tollard Royal
(TR3-7 and TR166). Pitt Rivers described the
latter as ‘a large door nail’ (Pitt Rivers 1890,
19 and pl. 22, 14). However, the group was
described in his museum display as ‘strike nails
for cart-wheels’. Essentially substantial nails,
these studs could have served both a structural
and a decorative purpose.
Door and window ittings
The majority of the door and window furniture
included here comes from Clarendon Palace.
There is also a hinge plate tip from Gomeldon and a pivot from Old Sarum east suburb;
their medieval date is thus reasonably assured,
although the shapes and forms of these items
were mainly determined by their function and
would thus not have changed signiicantly in
later periods. The lead caulking on a wall loop
and a hinge pivot from Clarendon Palace shows
they were itted in stone.
Hinges
112 Shutter hinge. L. 117mm. From Gomeldon,
building 3. Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and ig. 13,
no. 32. 1967.148.5.21
113 Strap hinge. L. 213mm. From Clarendon
Palace. Goodall 1988, 216 and ig. 77, no. 55.
1957.47
Fig 00
114 Strap hinge with leur-de-lys shaped terminal,
strap broken. L. 139mm. W. 130mm. From
Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 216 and ig. 77,
no. 57. 1957.47
Fig 00
115 Hinge terminal. Part of a ?trefoil. L. 63mm.
From Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 216 and ig.
77, no. 58. 1957.47
Fig 00
116 Pointed tip from end of hinge plate, three
nail-holes surviving in L. 94mm. From Gomeldon,
yard area by building 6. Musty and Algar 1986, 154
and ig. 13, no. 33. 1967.148.5.5
Wall loops
117 Wall loop in lead caulking. L. 65mm. From
Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 216 and ig. 76,
no. 51. 2000R.60
Fig 00
This may be part of a harr-hung door, which
pivoted on spindles.
Pivots
118 Hinge pivot in lead caulking. L. 111mm.
From Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 216 and ig.
76, no. 54. 1957.47
Fig 00
119 Hinge pivot with tapering spike. L.
130mm. From Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988,
216 and ig. 76, no. 53. 1957.47
Fig 00
For another, similar, one see Goodall 1988,
216 and ig. 76, no. 52.
120 Hinge pivot with lat tapering spike. L.
76mm. Found associated with Greensand footings
in 1957 during a watching brief in the east suburb
of Old Sarum. 12th century. Musty 1959, 182 and
191, ig. 6. 1958.38
Fig 00
The ind spot is identiied as part of the ‘site
of St John’s Hospital’ on Ordnance Survey maps
but the evidence for this is uncertain. There is
a similar example (1964.70) from Gomeldon,
building 2 (Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and
ig. 13, no. 31).
Bolts
121 Hand-operated sliding bolt. L. 206mm.
From Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig.
79, no. 81. 1957.47
Fig 00
122 Bolt mount, U-shaped. L. 82mm. From
Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 79,
no. 82. 1957.47
Fig 00
Objects of Iron
Latch rest
123 Latch rest. L. 96mm. From Clarendon Palace.
Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 78, no. 65. 1957.47
Fig 00
Roves
Washers, frequently lozenge-shaped, used in
conjunction with clench bolts for doors, window shutters and well covers, held together and
strengthened with rear ledges. Nails with tips
clenched over roves to prevent pulling out.
124 Rove. Lozenge-shaped, with two bevelled edges.
L. 71mm. W. 43mm. From Clarendon Palace. Goodall
2011, 188 no. H246 and ig. 9.11.1957.47
Fig 00
For this and two others see Goodall 1988,
216 and ig. 76, no. 48-50.
157
Locks and Keys
Security equipment (locks and particularly keys)
represents one of the largest groups of objects
in the Museum, there being almost 500 keys in
the Drainage Collection alone. This catalogue
is by necessity selective in the number listed
and focuses on keys recovered from excavations
and examples of known medieval type. The
majority, however, are unfortunately without
dateable context, being either from the Salisbury drainage, for which stratigraphic evidence
was not recorded, or being casual inds. The
Museum’s Catalogue of 1864 drew particular
attention to the quantity and interest of the keys
(Stevens 1864, 61). There are many that may
be medieval or are post-medieval but medieval
in style. These are not catalogued in detail here
but an indication is given of their number. They
would doubtless repay future specialist study
and analysis.
Window bars
125 Window bar with lattened ends. L. 402mm.
From Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 216 and ig.
77, no. 61. 1957.47
Fig 00
This is probably from a narrow, possibly
lancet, window. Its ends suggest that it was
likely to have been set in masonry. Such bars
survive in situ, as for example in a window at
Stokesay Castle, Shropshire (Nicholas Grifiths
pers. comm.).
126 Incomplete window bar with lattened
offset terminal. L. 208mm. From Clarendon Palace.
Goodall 1988, 216 and ig. 77, no. 64. 2000R.82
Fig 00
This was probably nailed to a timber
window-frame through ‘perforated’ offset terminals. For two other similar ones (2000R.81
and 1957.47) see Goodall 1988, 216 and ig.
77, no. 62-3.
127 Fragment of a window bar in lead caulking.
L. 93mm. From Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988,
216 and ig. 77, no. 60. 1957.47
Fig 00
This is possibly from a grille of interlocking
horizontal and vertical bars.
Barrel padlocks
Goodall 1990b, 1001-3 defines four postConquest types of barrel padlocks: type A has
attached tubes, B has ins and attached tubes,
C has L-shaped arms and D has shackles. The
majority of the padlock bodies are of type B,
which is the most common type.
128 Padlock body with external ribs, with in
broken away. D. 23mm. L. 45mm. T-shaped slot
in underside for a padlock key of type C. From Old
Sarum, east suburb, found during road construction,
1931-2. 1932.8; OS.C122a
Fig 00
This is the only example where the key is
inserted via a slot in the side rather than through
the end. For a complete example from a late
thirteenth- to early fourteenth-century context,
Staple Gardens, Winchester, see Cunliffe 1964,
189, ig. 66, no. 8 & pl. 7, and for a reconstruction of a similar lock in use see Ottaway 2002,
2868-9 ig. 1444.
129 Padlock. Complete, with decoration of twisted
copper-alloy wire and possible traces of plating. D.
39mm. L. 159mm (overall). Type B. 13th-14th
century. From Fitzgerald’s Farm, West Harnham.
158
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
Sal. Mus. Rep. 1963-4, 20 and pl. 1b. 1963.155
Fig 00 & cover
From the x-radiograph the internal mechanism is comparable to one from Coppergate,
York (Ottaway and Rogers 2002, 2870-1 and
ig. 1447-8 no.12572). For a similar barrel
padlock case with longitudinal rods see Goodall
1990b, 1009 and ig. 311 no. 3649).
130 Padlock body, decorated with twisted copperalloy wire. Lateral pin sheath, only one spring survives, now detached. Type D. D. 34mm. L. 78mm.
From Old Sarum excavations 1909-15, probably
from the Courtyard House, garderobe pit 1. O.S.
Diary 1910, 20. Proc. Soc. Ants. 23 (1909-11), 514.
1920-1.30; OS.C125
Fig 00
131 Padlock body, similar to Cat 130 but with
the springs still inside. Type B. D. c.36mm. L. (surviving) 60mm. From Old Sarum excavations 1909-15,
probably from the Courtyard House, garderobe pit
1. O.S. Diary 1910, 20. Proc. Soc. Ants. 23 (1909-11),
514. 1920-1.30; OS.C124
Fig 00
132 Padlock U bolt. L. 64mm. From Clarendon
Palace.Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 78, no. 68.
1957.47
Fig 00
135 Padlock spring mechanism. D. 32mm.
L. 82mm. 4 springs. Drainage coll. SD514;
2007R.150
Although damaged this appears to be from
a padlock of either type A or B.
There are ive other spring mechanisms, all from
padlocks of type D: two from the east suburb
of Old Sarum (OS.C122-3; 1932.8), one from
Salisbury (SD 513; 1999R.498), one from
Teffont (iiE 22; 1999R.665) and a very small
example from Amesbury (1972.58).
Padlock keys
The mechanism within a barrel padlock comprises essentially a bar with leaf springs which
need to be compressed by a key for the lock to
open. In use the key is inserted into the lock with
a sliding action and it is thus sometimes known as
a ‘slide’ key. These are typed by the relationship
of the bit, which compresses the spring-strips, to
the stem of the key.
Type A (bit set laterally to stem)
136 Key. L. 140mm. Stem with looped terminal.
?13th century. Found in the east suburb of Old
Sarum during road construction, 1931-2. 1932.8;
OS.C126
Fig 00
An example from Coppergate, York is dated
twelfth/thirteenth century (see Ottaway 2002,
2870-1 igs. 1447-8 no. 12578 and p. 3058).
For a similar key from Winchester see
Goodall 1990, 1021, ig. 322 no.3695.
133 Padlock bolt (AE). L. 33mm. From Old
Sarum excavations 1909-15. 1920-1.30.35;
OS.C47
Fig 00
137 Key. L. 179mm. Stem hooked at end. From
Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 78,
no. 67. 1957.47
Fig 00
This is from a barrel padlock of type C. For
one from St. Helens, Isles of Scilly see Dunning
1964, 66 and ig. 7 no. 3 and for an iron example of this type from Winchester see Goodall
1990, 1011 and ig. 313 no. 3667.
134 Padlock spring mechanism. D. 34mm. L.
82mm. 4 springs. From Gomeldon, building 1. Late
13th century. Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and ig.
13, no. 34. 1964.77
Fig 00
This type of mechanism is from a padlock
with shackle (type D).
For a similar key from Winchester see
Goodall 1990b, 1021, ig. 322 no. 3704-5.
138 Key. L. 180mm. Stem with looped terminal.
From Gomeldon, building 6A. Musty and Algar
1986, 154 and ig. 13, no. 35. 1967.148.18
Type B (bit set centrally to stem)
139 Key. L. 107mm. Stem terminates in a ring.
?13th century. From Clarendon Palace, Goodall
1988, 218 and ig. 78, no. 66. 1957.47 Fig 00
For a similar key from Winchester see
Objects of Iron
Goodall 1990b, 1022 and ig. 323 no. 3724.
Winchester type B.
Type C (bit and stem in line)
These keys, with bits in the same plane as the
stem and bow, would have been used with padlocks having a slot running along the length of
the barrel enabling the key to be drawn along
and over the spring-strips.
140 Key. L. 118mm. Circular bow, decorated stem
and bit with central cleft separating symmetrical
wards. Drainage coll. iiE242; 1999R.704 Fig 00
For comparable examples from Winchester
see Goodall 1990b, 1024 ig. 324.
Padlock keys with shield- or heater-shaped bits
occur commonly in iron but also in copper alloy
and are often referred to as ‘latch keys’. Simpler,
more crudely made examples with long stems
have been found, for example at Billingsgate and
Swan Lane in London, in contexts dating from
the later twelfth to the mid-fourteenth centuries
(Egan 1998, 100-102, ig. 75.267-8).
Those with short stems are generally better
made and would appear to be a later form. They
have been found in late medieval or sixteenthcentury contexts in Bedford (Baker et al. 1979,
281, ig. 176.1425) and Waltham Abbey, Essex
(Goodall 1978, 157, ig. 21.2), and two were
found in the Baynard House excavations in
London in contexts dated to the second half of
the fourteenth century (Egan, op. cit. 102-3,
ig. 75.269-70).
The following are keys of this later form and
demonstrate marked variation.
141 Padlock key. L. 72mm. Circular bow; square
stem; round-ended, rectangular bit with trefoil aperture. Drainage coll. Penny 1911, pl. 6 no. 30. iiE249;
1999R.700
Fig 00
Compare Egan 1998, 102, fig. 75 no.
270.
142 Padlock key (AE). L. 62mm. Circular bow,
pierced shield-shaped bit and small projecting lugs on
the bow. 14th century. Drainage coll. Penny 1911,
159
14, pl. 6 no. 33. iiE243; 2007R.138
The bow appears to have been miscast,
suggesting that this key may have been made
locally.
143 Padlock key (AE). L. 85mm. Thistle-shaped
bow and a short stem. Bit is rectangular or trapezoidal rather than shield-shaped and is more elaborate
than the example above, ending in a long spike. From
Salisbury. Shortt 1960, ig. 59, no. 7. iiE248a
144 Padlock key (AE). L. 70mm. Round bow and
pierced shield-shaped bit. There is incised decoration
on the stem. Drainage coll. iiE245; 2007R.139
145 Padlock key (AE). L. 87mm. Thistle-shaped
bow, pierced shield-shaped bit and a long stem. Probably from Salisbury. Penny 1911, 14, pl. 6 no. 34;
Shortt 1960, ig.59, no. 8. iiE248; 2007R.147
The more elaborate form and ine manufacture of this long-stemmed key suggests that it is
one of the later examples.
146 Padlock key. L. 86mm. Round bow, shieldshaped bit. ?14th century. From a house near the
Old Mill, West Harnham. Sal. Mus. Rep. 1964-5, 20
and pl. II. 1965.20
There are also nine other examples from
the Drainage Collection of padlock keys of
this type (1999R.187, 1999R.489.1-2 and
2007R.140-5).
Mounted locks
Such locks were in common use, mounted on
doors, chests, cupboards and the like but few
have survived: keys for them, however, are very
numerous.
147 Shield-shaped chest lock. H. 93mm. W.
90mm. From the Old Sarum excavations 1909-15.
1920-1.30.15; OS.C128
Fig 00
An example with an almost identical
mechanism, as indicated from a radiograph,
comes from Winchester where it is dated to the
late fourteenth-?ifteenth century (see Goodall
1990b, 1017 and ig. 321. no. 3691).
160
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
148 Shield-shaped chest lock, incomplete.
Similar to above. H. 115mm. W. 93mm. From the
Old Sarum excavations 1909-15. 1920-1.30.14;
OS.C127
Draw bolts from rotary locks
149 Draw bolt. L. 222mm. From Clarendon
Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 79, no. 76.
2000R.67
Fig 00
150 Draw bolt. L. 255mm. with slightly turned-up
end. From Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988, 218
and ig. 79, no. 78. 1957.47
151 Draw bolt. L. 230mm. From Clarendon
Palace, most probably from excavations carried out
by Sir Thomas Phillips in 1821. Phillips 1833, 151;
Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 79, no. 77. 1932.115
Fig 00
152 Incomplete lock bolt. L. (surviving) 146mm.
From Clarendon Palace. 1957.47.17
For this and another, shorter, fragment
(1957.47.34) see Goodall 1988, 218 and ig.
79, no. 79-80.
Keys for rotary locks
The classiication of rotary keys adopted here
follows that used by Ian Goodall at Winchester, where nine types were identiied (Goodall
1990b, 1024-5). We acknowledge the work
by Ian Goodall in the initial sorting of the keys
many years before the preparation of this catalogue, which helped us greatly in applying his
classiication.
Type 1
Keys of this type have L-section bit and projecting stem tip, and most appear to have a pearshaped bow.
153 Key with an incomplete pear-shaped
bow. Surviving L. (surviving) 43mm. From King
John’s House, Tollard Royal. Pitt Rivers 1890, pl.
XXII, no. 2; Ward Perkins 1940, 134 and 145, ig.
43, no. 1. 1975.12; TR 154
Fig 00
Probably twelfth century. Compare Goodall
1990b, 1024-5, ig. 235.
Type 2
This uncommon type has an L-section bit and
hollow stem tip.
154 Key (AE). L. 73mm. Oval bow in the form of
a twisted wreath surrounding a bird, possibly a falcon
or an eagle. At the top of the bow is a perforated
zoomorphic knop; there is another zoomorphic knop
at the junction of the stem and the bow. The stem
and simple bit are punched all over with ring-and-dot
motifs. From Wilton. 11th-12th century. Anon 1871,
248 and ig.; Shortt 1960, ig. 59, no. 1. iiE201
Fig 00
See Goodall 1990b, 1025 and ig. 326,
no. 3739 for a less-complete type 2 key with
moulded and in-illed oval bow end loop from
Winchester, dated eleventh-?mid twelfth century.
Type 3
These keys are forged by rolling from a single
sheet of metal to produce a hollow stem, which
does not project beyond the end of the bit. Many
exhibit a seam line along the stem and often the
bit is offset to the stem. A few of the keys have
ring bows but the majority have D- or kidneyshaped bows, some of which are hammered
lat. Wards are simple with chisel-cut clefts,
sometimes rounded. Some of the keys have
unusual angular clefts, which may be peculiar to
Salisbury. They range in length from 40mm to
146mm, with a single, heavy example (Cat 156),
188mm. There are some sixty keys of this type.
The majority are from the Drainage Collection,
some of which were described as being ‘found
in a layer of bluish clay which occurred at the
bottom of the excavations – the lowest point
at which relics were discovered – consequently
they may be assumed to be the earliest in date’
(Penny 1911, 12) and therefore thirteenth century, Salisbury having been founded in 1220.
Ward Perkins pointed out, referring to type 3 (his
type ll) Salisbury keys with crudely chiselled bits:
‘Rough workmanship may be as much due to
Objects of Iron
160
161
159
162
163
165
164
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
Plate 13. Type 3 keys: Cat 159-174 (1:2)
161
162
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
rusticity as early date’ (Ward Perkins 1940, 136).
They could therefore date from late eleventh to
the thirteenth century, possibly later.
Two keys of this type (Cat 155-6) were found
during supericial excavations at Old Sarum
cathedral in 1834. The general context suggests
a date before the abandonment of the cathedral
in the thirteenth century.
155 Key. L. 120mm. D. (stem) 10mm. Flattened
D-shaped bow. From Old Sarum cathedral, ‘near
the site of the high altar’ (Sal. Mus. Cat. 1870, 28).
OS.C39; 2000R.44
Fig 00
bit and bow:
160-74 Fifteen keys of type 3 from the Drainage coll. SD56, 1999R.272; SD32, 1999R.304;
SD17, 1999R.290; iiE295, 1999R.204; iiE220,
2007R.119; SD717, 2007R.124; SD39, 1999R.311;
iiE210, 1999R.698.2; SD24, 1999R.296;
iiE209, 1999R.173; iiE208, 1999R.698.1;
SD34, 1999R.306; SD719, 2007R.120; iiE207,
2007R.121; SD4, 1999R.256
Pl 13
Type 4
These have a hollow stem, separately applied
bit and can be dificult to differentiate from
type 3.
156 Key. L. 188mm. D. (stem) 20mm. Kidneyshaped bow. From Old Sarum cathedral, ‘near the site
of the west door’ (Sal. Mus. Cat. 1870, 28). Gentleman’s
Magazine 1835 (ii), 640; Benson and Hatcher 1843,
23-4. OS.C38; 2000R.5
Fig 00
175 Incomplete key with hollow stem,
surviving L. (surviving) 42mm. From Clarendon
Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 78, no. 69.
1957.47.42
This key appears in a contemporary coloured
drawing by Chevalier J. O. C. Grant (2011.12;
Sal. Mus. Rep. 2010-11, 11 and pl.).
Type 5
157 Casket key. L. 51mm. From the Old Sarum
excavations 1909-15. 14th century. Proc. Soc. Antiq.
24, 60. O.S. Diary 1910, 20. OS.C17
Fig 00
176 Casket key. L. 80mm. Lozenge bow. Drainage
coll. 14th century. iiE218; 2007R.105
Fig 00
Mostly likely a key of type 3 but corrosion
prevents certainty.
177 Key. L. 52mm. Stem 7mm square. Flat-topped
bow around a trilobe. From a bunch of keys found in a
shed in Culver Street, Salisbury. 1951.28 Fig 00
158 Key. L. 85mm. Stem, moulded at shoulder, with
traces of diagonal grooving and non-ferrous plating.
Oval bow. Channelled bit. From Crane Bridge, River
Avon, Salisbury. 14th century. 1970.125 Fig 00
Similar, though more elaborate, grooving
occurs on several keys from Winchester (see
Goodall 1990b, 1028-31, nos. 3790 and
3823-4).
159 Key. L. 130mm. D. (stem) 12mm with three
faint grooves above and below the bit. Seam visible
along length of stem. Welded D-shaped bow. Bit has
chisel-cut angular clefts. Drainage coll. Penny 1911,
11, pl. 1, no. 2. iiE204; 1999R.170
Pl 13
Fifteen keys from the Drainage collection
are illustrated photographically (plate 00) to
show a typical range in size and designs of
These have a stem, which is solid at the head
and then split.
Type 6
These have a solid stem, the end of which is in
line with the bit. For convenience they have been
divided into two groups (a. and b.).
a. This group comprises over ifty small keys, of
which the majority are from the Drainage Collection and which are best described as chest or
coffer keys. They range in length from 40mm
to just over 60mm, most being 45-50mm. The
majority have simple bows, round and lat with
circular perforation; a few have oval, lozenge,
kidney-shaped or thistle-shaped bows. Not only
is it the small size but also the form of the bit
that deine this group. There are usually two
offset clefts on the two ends and a series of small
clefts on the side.
Objects of Iron
163
178 Casket key. L. 45mm. From the Old Sarum
excavations 1909-15. 13th century. Proc. Soc. Antiq.
24, 60. O.S. Diary 1910, 20. OS.C16
Eleven keys, from the Drainage collection, are
illustrated photographically (plate 00) to show
a range of designs of bow and bit within this
group:
179 Casket key. L. 51mm. From the Old Sarum
excavations 1909-15. 14th century. Proc. Soc. Antiq.
24, 60. O.S. Diary 1910, 20. OS.C18
Fig 00
182-92 Eleven keys of type 6a from the Drainage coll. iiE213, 1999R.174; iiE215, 1999R.176;
iiE216, 1999R.177; iiE226, 1999R.181;
iiE228, 1999R.182; iiE293, 2007R.67; iiE297,
2007R.67 1999R.205; SD88, 1999R.365.1;
SD95, 1999R.365.8; SD96, 1999R.365.9; SD107,
1999R.368.
Pl 14
180 Chest key. L. 51mm. Flat, round bow
with circular perforation. Drainage coll. iiE212;
2007R.64
Fig 00
181 Chest key. L. 67mm. Bow with three-lobed
piercing surmounted by a crown. Rectangular bit,
18mm x 26mm, with 6 shallow clefts on the side
and incised line on both faces. Bow with three-lobed
piercing surmounted by a crown. From East Knoyle
Church. 14th-15th century. Sal. Mus. Rep. 1954-5,
12 and front cover; Shortt 1960, pl. 59, no. 3.
1955.51
Fig 00 & cover
182
183
184
185
186
187
In addition there are four keys, which are different in having channelled bits, the channelling in
line with the stem. They include:
193 Casket key. L. 35mm. From the site of the
Franciscan Friary, St Ann Street, Salisbury. 14th
century. Sal. Mus. Rep. 1969-70, 19. 1969.81.6
Fig 00
194 Key. L. 67mm. Oval bow. From Crane Bridge,
River Avon, Salisbury. 15th century. 1970.126
b. This group of 47 keys, the majority from
the Drainage Collection, comprises larger
keys, mostly ranging from 70mm to 100mm in
length. Most have oval or D-shaped bows. Many
of the bits are larger versions of those seen in
casket keys; almost without exception the wards
are asymmetrical. Their larger size indicates
they were used to secure larger structures such
as doors or chests.
195 Key. L. 96mm. Rounded-rectangular stem. Dshaped bow. From Idmiston Manor, Idmiston. ?15th
century. 1982.19
Fig 00
189
188
196 Key. L. 96mm. Circular stem D. 5mm. Kidneyshaped bow. Complicated bit. Drainage coll. iiE305;
2007R.127
Pl 00
190
191
197 Key. L. 92mm. Sub-circular stem with band of
decoration on raised band beneath bow. Flat-topped
bow. Drainage coll. iiE279; 2007R.108
Pl 00
192
Plate 14. Type 6a keys: Cat 182-192 (1:2)
198 Key. L. 78mm. Incomplete, broken bit. From
Sunnyhill Road, Salisbury. 1958.55
164
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
many narrow clefts in the side. A few have very
intricately-cut wards, as Cat 205 below. Cat 206
is apparently an uninished example.
196
197
199
200
205 Key. L. 76mm. Bit is rectangular 31mm x
20mm with two angular perforations and 9 deepcut clefts on the side. Bow is lozenge-shaped with 4
circular perforations. Drainage coll. Penny 1911, pl.
3, no. 12. iiE229; 2007R.102
Fig 00
206 Key. L. 71mm. Stem bent. Flat-topped bow
around a two-lobed perforation. Uninished rectangular bit, 21mm x 29mm, uncut except for two
rectangular perforations. Drainage coll. iiE278;
2007R.80
Fig 00
Type 7
201
202
203
These have a solid stem projecting beyond the
end of the bit. The ward cuts in the bit are either asymmetrical or arranged symmetrically at
both ends of an otherwise solid bit. There are
approximately twenty keys of this type, thirteen
from the Drainage coll. Many cast, copper-alloy
casket keys are of this type.
207 Key (AE). Traces of gilding. L. 45mm. Large
collar below annular bow. From Old Sarum 19091915 excavations. OS.C26
Fig 00
204
Plate 15. Type 6b keys: Cat 196-7; 199-204 (1:2)
A simple casket key from Exeter, with an
annular bow and collar between the end of
the stem and the head, was found in a context
dated c.1200-50 (Goodall 1984, 345, ig. 193
no. 181).
A further six keys of this group, from the Drainage collection, are illustrated photographically
(plate 00) to show a typical range of designs of
bit and bow:
208 Key (AE). L. 40mm. Collar below pierced
annular bow. From Park Lane, Salisbury. 1972.75
Fig 00
199-204 Six keys of type 6b from the Drainage
coll. iiE237, 2007R.126; iiE282, 1999R.196;
iiE300, 1999R.707; iiE304, 1999R.310; SD83,
1999R.361; SD100, 1999R.366.3
Pl 15
209 Key (AE). L. 43mm. Annular bow, no collar.
Drainage coll. iiE202a; 2007R.90
There are a further twelve keys, essentially type
6b but characterised by having at least one
angular perforation through the bit and usually
210 Key (AE). L. 41mm. Pierced annular bow. Noticeably lat. From the Chapel of St John, Harnham
Bridge, Salisbury. iiE202; 1999R.697
Fig 00
211 Key (AE). L. 40mm. Pierced annular bow,
Objects of Iron
no collar. From Radnor/Bartlett Road, Salisbury
in material originally from the Southampton Road
gravel pits. OS.C46; 1935.62
212 Key (AE). L. (surviving) 33mm. with incomplete stem. Pierced annular bow, no collar. From
Read’s Close, Teffont. 1948.50
213 Key. L. 163mm. Stem 8mm square. Flattened D-shaped bow. From a Swindon dealer, who
described it as having been found by a man who
had worked on excavations at Old Sarum. 1946.11;
OS.C133
Fig 00
Two keys of this type, from the Drainage Collection, are illustrated photographically (plate 00)
to show different designs of bit and bow:
214-5 Two keys of type 7 from the Drainage coll.
iiE239, 1999R.701; iiE240, 1999R.186. Pl 16
214
165
large keys for door locks makes them one of
the most common in the medieval period. The
type occurs from the twelfth century well into
the post-medieval period and Goodall 1990b,
1032-3 nos. 3826-37 describes a number of
examples from Winchester ranging in date from
the twelfth to the sixteenth century. There are ten
keys from Old Sarum and Clarendon Palace, 66
in the Drainage Collection and a further nine are
recorded as casual inds from other locations.
216 Key. L. 152mm with lat, D-shaped bow. From
the Old Sarum excavations 1909-15, Courtyard
House. 13th century or later. O.S. Diary 1910, 11 or
1911, 24. 1945.312; OS.C132
Fig 00
217 Key. L. 165mm. Stem, stopped over bit, with
knobbed tip. D-shaped bow. From Old Sarum, east
suburb, during road construction, 1931-2. OS.C130;
2000R.40
There is another (OS.C131; 2000R.41) from
the same source. Both are undated but are included because they are of medieval form and
provenance.
There are six keys of this type from Clarendon
Palace (Cat 218-23). From their context they
should all be of medieval date.
215
Plate 16. Type 7 keys: Cat 214-5 (1:2)
Type 8
Types 7 and 8 are clearly related forms of key,
both having a solid stem projecting beyond the
end of the bit. Type 8 differs in having a symmetrically-shaped bit, which incorporates one
or more ward cuts running its full depth. This
type of bit enabled the key to be used to open
a door from either side, a fact which ensured
its popularity continued into the post-medieval
period. Stems may be decorated and are often
stopped over the bit. Most have D-shaped bows.
The majority range in length from 110-150mm,
with few outside this range, and the need for
218 Key. L. 61mm with round stem and oval bow.
From Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988, 218 and ig.
78, no. 70. 1957.47
219 Key. L. 68mm with hexagonal stem and Dshaped bow. From Clarendon Palace, found in 1844
when Sir Frederick Bathurst restored the east wall of
the Great Hall and afixed an inscribed commemorative plaque. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 78, no. 71.
iiE367; 1932.114
Fig 00
220 Key. L. 77mm with a decorated stem of
diamond-shaped cross-section and D-shaped bow.
From Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988, 218 and ig.
78, no. 73. 1957.47.39
221-3 Three keys. L. 68mm, 73mm and 80mm.
with rectangular or square cross-section stems and Dshaped bows. From Clarendon Palace, Goodall 1988,
166
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
218 and ig. 78, nos. 75, 72 and 74. 1957.47.40-41;
1950.63
224 Key. L. 130mm. with heart-shaped bow. ‘Found
at Old Sarum’. In the Museum since 1883. Possibly
15th or 16th century. Penny 1911, 13 and pl. V no.
25. OS.C44; 2000R.6
225
Eight keys of this type, from the Drainage Collection, are illustrated photographically (plate
17) to show a typical range of designs of bit
and bow:
226
225-32 Eight keys of type 8 from the Drainage
coll. iiE219, 2007R.104; iiE241, 1999R.702;
iiE258, 1999R.705; iiE259, 1999R.189; iiE264,
1999R.192; iiE266, 1999R.699; iiE277a,
1999R.195; iiE303a, 1999R.209
Pl. 17
227
A further nine casual inds of this type of
key within Salisbury and district are noted
here to provide a record of their geographical
distribution represented within the collection;
further description would be superluous: Castle Street, 1957.57; Endless Street, 1939.27;
Macklin Road, 1999R.683; River Avon,
Bridge Street, 1962.65; River Avon, Crane
Bridge, 1970.122.1 and .2; Cathedral Close,
1957.106; West Harnham, 1966.42; Winterbourne Stoke, 1971.20.
228
229
230
Type 9
Stem is hollow at the tip, solid above; the end
of stem and the bit are in line. Iron keys of this
type are usually post-medieval and none of
those in the Drainage Collection is convincingly
medieval in character. Copper-alloy keys of this
type, usually cast, occur in medieval contexts and
there are several in the collection. A particularly good series, dated 1235-80,
was recovered from the Priory and
Hospital of St Mary Spital, London,
see Egan 1997, ig. 26, S12-20.
231
232
Plate 17. Type 8 keys: Cat 225-32 (1:2)
233 Key (AE). L. 39mm. Round
pierced bow. From the Old Sarum excavations 1909-1915. OS.C27
Fig 00
Cat 234-6 are of the same form, dated to the
Objects of Iron
late twelfth to late fourteenth century; see Egan
1998, 111.
234 Two similar keys (AE). L. 40 and 39.5mm.
Annular bows, moulded stem heads and channelled
bits. Drainage coll. SD712; 2007R.92 and SD713;
2007.93
These compare closely with a key from Winchester, which is described as ifteenth century
(Goodall 1990b, 1035, no. 3852), and one from
Billingsgate, London (Egan 1998, 111 and ig.
86 no. 298).
235 Key (AE). L. 36.5mm. Annular bow and
collar. Simple bit. Noticeably lat. Drainage coll.
iiE238; 2007R.91
236 Key (AE). L. 36mm. Annular bow. Simple bit.
Noticeably lat. Drainage coll. iiE221; 1999R.178
Escutcheon plate
237 Part of a triangular escutcheon plate.
82mm x 62mm. From the Old Sarum excavations
1909-15. ?15th century. 1920-1.30; OS.C129
Fig 00
There is a larger example from Billingsgate,
London, which is dated c.1350-c.1400 (Egan
1998, 120 and ig. 92 no.334).
Shackles
238 Shackles. Two ankle cuffs (max. internal D.
98mm) joined together by a short chain of three
links, two elongated, and a smaller central ring, which
would have allowed movement of only 140mm.
between legs. Each cuff is made up of two C-shaped
pieces of iron rod (D. 8-9mm) expanded, lattened
and riveted at their ends. Found around the ankles of
a (presumed) male interred north east of the Choir in
the Cathedral at Old Sarum. Skeleton showed signs
of decapitation. O.S. Diary 1913, 4; Proc. Soc. Ants. xxvi
(1914),116. OS.C55
Fig 00 and cover
Hawley (O.S. Diary, 1913, 4) questioned
whether the human remains might have been
those of the king’s cousin, William d’Eu, who
died in 1096. For similar riveted shackles in
167
the Musée Municipal, Louviers see Halbout et
al. 1987, 111, no. 207, for which no dating is
given. Several complete barrel padlocks with
shackles come from Winchester; three were
found at Cathedral Green from a late tenthto eleventh-century context, one from Brook
Street and one from Wolvesley Palace, loosely
dated from the early eleventh to early ifteenth
century (Goodall 1990b, 1011-4 and ig. 314-5
nos.3671-5). See also Thompson 1986 for iron
shackles, probably associated with a barrel padlock, from the River Tyne at Corbridge.
The Salisbury shackles are important evidence for the use of shackles on humans; irstly,
because they were found in situ, and, secondly,
because they represent a particularly severe
form of restraint that could not be taken off as
quickly and easily as the more common types of
shackles that are secured with the help of chains
and/or padlocks. The latter have often been
interpreted as animal hobbles only, a distinction
which according to Henning (1992, 405-6) and
Gustafsson (2009) is not necessary and would
not have been made by their original users as
they would have worked perfectly on both men
and livestock.
Household ittings
Furniture
The drop handle and strip bindings listed here
are all likely to come from chests, attesting to the
importance of these items of furniture as containers for storage, an importance kept in rural
households well into the twentieth century.
239 Binding strip. L. 173mm. Shaped fragment
probably from a casket. From Clarendon Palace.
Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 80, no. 84. 2000R.58
Fig 00
For two other fragments (1957.47) see
Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 80, no. 86-7.
240 Binding strip with end widened, lattened
and perforated. L. 77mm. From Clarendon Palace.
Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 80, no. 85. 2000R.84
Fig 00
168
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
241 Corner binding. L. 52mm; 58mm. From
Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 80,
no. 88. 2000R.64
Fig 00
There is another much narrower strip
(2000R.61): see Goodall 1988, 218 and ig.
80, no. 89.
242 Fragment of binding. L. 115mm. W. 22mm.
Th. 2mm. Pierced by a lat-headed, rectangular nail.
L. of shank 94mm. Head 16mm x 3mm. From
Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 80,
no. 90. 2000R.63
Fig 00
248 Single cup candle holder with spirally
twisted stem. Cup D. 15mm. H. 92mm. Drainage
coll. SD342; 1999R.28.2
Fig 00
249 Two cup candle holder with a pricket.
Downward spike or bracket broken off. Cups
D. c.15mm. H. 70mm. Drainage coll. SD344;
1999R.28.4
Fig 00
For a similar fourteenth-century example
from Swan Lane, London see Egan 1998, 144
no. 416.
Hooks
243 Strap fragment with single rivet, probably
from a chest. L. 92mm. W. 35mm. From Clarendon
Palace. Goodall 1988, 216 and ig. 77, no. 59.
2000R.83
244 Rectangular drop handle perhaps from a
chest. L. 192mm. From Clarendon Palace. Goodall
1988, 218 and ig. 80, no. 92. 1957.47 Fig 00
For another example see Goodall 1988, 218
and ig. 80, no. 91.
Lighting
245 Wax-pan from candlestick. Tinned
surface, concentric engraved lines. D. 130mm. From
Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 81,
no. 93. 2000R.67
Fig 00
For a complete thirteenth-century candlestick
with wax-pan from Winchester see Goodall
1990c, 981-3, ig. 306 no. 3530.
250 Flesh hook with triple prongs and a bent whittle tang. From the Old Sarum excavations 1909-15.
Goodall 2011, 308 no. J22 and ig. 11.4. 1920-1.30;
OS.C144
Fig 00
For a three-pronged lesh-hook from Winchester see Goodall 1990d, 820 and ig. 242,
no. 2548. A simpler, two-pronged, hook comes
from Fishergate, York. The type originates in
the late Anglo-Saxon period and continues in
use into the thirteenth century (Rogers 1993,
1330–1 ig. 643).
251 Hook with nailed langed arm. L. 175mm.
From Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig.
81, no. 94. 1957.47
Fig 00
Designed to be attached to a pole, this could
have been used as a boat, ire or general purpose
draghook.
Chain ittings
246 Single cup candle holder. Cup is poorly
preserved, D. 22mm and H. 20mm. Stub of angled
stem surviving. From excavations on the site of the
Franciscan Friary, St Ann Street, Salisbury. Sal. Mus.
Rep. 1969-70, 19. 1969.81
252 Three links, 2 parallel-sided (L. 58mm. W.
13mm), separated by a circular one (D. 31mm). From
Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 81,
no. 95. 1957.47
Fig 00
Candle holders, as below, cannot be closely
dated as the form is a basic one, which spans the
medieval and post-medieval periods.
253 Figure-of-eight link. L. 56mm. W. 14mm.
From Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig.
81, no. 96. 2009R.43
Fig 00
247 Single cup candle holder with spike at
right angle. Cup D. 20mm. Drainage coll. SD341;
1999R.28.1
Fig 00
254 Chain with swivel ring. Found in the east
suburb of Old Sarum during road construction,
1931-2. 1932.8; OS.C110
Fig 00
Objects of Iron
255 Swivel itting. L. 63mm. From Clarendon
Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 81, no. 97.
1957.47
Fig 00
Rings and collars
256 Ring. D. 40mm. From Clarendon Palace.
Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 81, no. 98. 1957.47
Fig 00
For another from Clarendon Palace see
Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 81, no. 99.
257 Collar. D. 40mm. W. 10mm. From Clarendon
Palace. Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 81, no. 100.
1957.47
Fig 00
There is another from Clarendon Palace.
Goodall 1988, 218 and ig. 81, no. 101.
Book chains
The value of books painstakingly produced and
illuminated by hand before the printing press
made multiple-production possible was so great
that they were often stored in locked chests. As libraries became established, particularly from the
thirteenth century onwards, books were made
more accessible by securing them to bookcases
and desks by chains, which were attached by
rings to rods, themselves secured by lock and
key. The chains varied in length, being suficient
to allow the books to be taken down to be read.
Libraries continued to chain books well beyond
the medieval period. The Bodleian Library in
Oxford, for example, paid £25 10s (£25.50) in
1660 to chain the books in one bequest alone,
though by 1761 it was unchaining 1448 books
at a cost of one halfpenny each (Fletcher 1914,
14-5). The chains here may be, but cannot be
proven to be, medieval.
258 Chain of 14 forged parallel-sided 60mm-long
links (7 and 7 linked by a swivel ring) with a circular
ringlet at each end. L. (overall) 905mm. From Salisbury Cathedral Library. Sal. Mus. Cat. 1864, 52 no.
201. 1999R.26
Fig 00
The Museum has another similar chain, of
5 and 7 links (1934.131), L. 880mm, possibly
from Salisbury and there is also a fragment of
169
two links (60mm long) with part of a swivel
itting at one end in the Drainage Collection
(SD361; 1999R.25.1).
There are 110 chains of this design and
similar in length in Salisbury Cathedral Library
where they hang as a reminder of the security
they once offered precious medieval books and
manuscripts. The library building dates from
the mid-ifteenth century and it is interesting to
note that when, at that time, a canon gave some
books there was written inside two of them the
stipulation that they be chained (Cox and Harvey, 1907, 331).
259 Chain of three 70mm-long links and a swivel
ring at one end. L. (overall) 225mm. Drainage coll.
SD367; 2007R.198
This is different in design from the above but
possibly from a book.
Horse equipment
Horseshoes
We are particularly grateful to Ken Smith for
his comments on the shoes and help with their
dating, which in the case of the casual inds is
tentative given the absence of context and the
conservative nature of the blacksmith’s craft. All
the Petersinger Farm shoes are from his collection and were found on land north of the River
Avon at the boundary of the parishes of Laverstock and Ford and that of Clarendon Park.
The terminology and typology used here is that
adopted by John Clark (see Clark 1995, 81-91),
where four basic types of shoe are deined:
Type 1 is crude, has a broad, thin (2-3mm)
web, usually with three round nail-holes cut in each
branch. A wavy edge is created by the countersinking
for nail-heads, which are typically T-shaped. Rarely
do they have calkins.
Type 2 is similar but usually well-made, has a
narrower and thicker (>5mm) web, and usually has
three nail-holes (round in type 2A, rectangular in
2B) cut in each branch. Deep countersunk slots for,
typically iddle-key form, nail-heads result in a wavy
edge to the shoe. It normally has calkins in one or
both heels.
170
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
Type 3 is a heavier shoe. At over 200g, it is generally about twice as heavy as type 2. It has a broader
web with more nail-holes, four in each branch being
not uncommon. The nail-holes are rectangular and
have narrow rectangular countersunk slots, which
generally do not deform the shoe edge. Calkins are
less common than on type 2.
Type 4 is similar, with a broad web, sometimes
tapering towards the heel. The distinguishing feature
is the form of the nail-holes and nails. The holes have
no separate countersunk slot for the nail-head but
are square or, less commonly, rectangular, and taper
inwards. Calkins may be present.
The dating of horseshoes without secure
archaeological context is notoriously dificult.
This series is chronological within the period
eleventh-ifteenth century but there is considerable overlap between the occurrence of the types
and it is essential to be cautious of using type
alone as a means of dating. See Clark 1995,
91-7 for a chronological assessment of 360
horseshoes from London.
260 Shoe with hint of wavy edge, one calkin and
6 countersunk round nail-holes, one nail in situ. L.
111mm. W. 97mm. Type 1. From Petersinger Farm.
2010.43.24
Fig 00
261 Wavy edge shoe, with two calkins and two
of six T-shaped nails present. L. 104mm. W. 90m.
Type 2. From the Pembroke Estate, Wilton. Probably
12th century. 1996R.2084
262 Wavy edge shoe, with two calkins and one of
six nails present. L. 105mm. W. (max) 92mm. Type 2.
From the River Test at Fullerton, Hampshire. Probably 12th century. 1999R.830
Fig 00
263 Wavy edge shoe with angular inner proile,
‘swept-back’ calkins and 6 countersunk, round/
oval nail-holes. L. 111mm. W. (max) 90mm. Type
2.?Drainage coll. Probably 12th-13th century.
1996R.2085.9
264 Wavy edge shoe with two calkins and 6
countersunk oval nail-holes (one corroded away).
L. 107mm. W. 94mm. Type 2B. From Petersinger
Farm. Late 12th century. 2010.43.2
Fig 00
For a similar shoe, from a dateable context
in London see Clark 1995, 104 and 116, ig.
82 no.125.
265 Arm of a shoe with a calkin and countersunk
nail-holes. Type 3. L. 103mm. From Clarendon
Palace, 13th century or earlier. Goodall 1988, 222
and ig. 82, no. 111. 1957.47
Fig 00
266 Shoe, much corroded, with one calkin surviving,
apparently 6 nail-holes, with one iddle-headed/Tshaped nail in situ. L. 107mm. W. 94mm. Type 3.
Dug up in the graveyard of Britford Church in 1930
(Ward 1941, 13). Probably late 12th-13th century.
1996R.2083
This is the only medieval shoe in the collection from south of the River Avon at Britford.
To the north of the river, on land to the north
and east of the Salisbury sewage works near
Petersinger Farm, many shoes have been located (Smith, 1984, 337-9). These are mostly
post-medieval but four are medieval (Cat 267-8
and 279-80, ex K. Smith coll.).
267 Shoe with 2 small, worn but still prominent,
calkins, 6 square countersunk nail-holes and distinct
wavy-edge bulging of the outer perimeter. L. 97mm.
W. (max) 95mm. Type 3. From Petersinger Farm.
Probably 13th century. 2010.43.4
This well-preserved shoe is smaller than
average and shows visible thickening of the toe
to compensate for additional wear.
268 Shoe with 2 broad and somewhat worn calkins,
6 square nail-holes and a distinctly arched inner proile. L. 113mm. W. 94mm. Type 3. From Petersinger
Farm. Probably 13th century. 2010.43.5 Fig 00
This well-preserved shoe has a very noticeably thickened toe to allow for wear caused by
the relatively high calkins and is clearly intended
for a rear hoof.
269 Shoe without calkins and with 6 square nailholes. L. 101mm. W. 98mm. Type 3/4. Drainage
coll. Probably 12th/13th century. 1999R.812.1
Objects of Iron
270 Shoe without calkins and with four square nailholes on each side. L. 113mm. W. 112mm. Type
4. From Clarendon Palace, Late medieval. Goodall
1988, 222 and ig. 82, no. 112. 1957.47 Fig 00
There are four other shoe fragments from
Clarendon Palace. Goodall 1988, 222 and ig.
82, no. 113-16.
271 Shoe with single calkin and 3 nail-holes each
side, 3 nails surviving. L. 122mm. W. 114mm.
Type 4. Drainage coll. 14th century. SD604;
2007R.219
Fig 00
272 Shoe with 2 calkins and 4 rectangular nail-holes
each side. L. (surviving) 115mm. W. 124mm. Type 4.
Drainage coll. 15th century. SD 608; 2007R.220
273 Shoe with pointed arch internal profile.
Heels have a wedge and a calkin; 6 nail-holes, 3 of
which have nails in situ. L. 117mm. W. 114mm.
Type 4.?Drainage coll. 14th or early 15th century.
1996R.2081.1
One of the nails might possibly be the remains of a spiral clench, which theoretically
allowed a loose shoe to be tightened without the
need to replace the nail.
274 Shoe with arched inner proile. The heels have
a calkin and a worn wedge; 6 square nail-holes, 1
corroded through. L. 124mm. W. 112mm. Type
4.?Drainage coll. 14th century. 1996R.2081.3
275 Shoe with a worn, broad calkin on one heel
(other heel broken) and 6 large, square nail-holes.
L. 117mm. W. 106mm. Type 4. ?Drainage coll.
14th15th century. 1996R.2085.10
Fig 00
This well-preserved and very solid shoe
is bent as though possibly wrenched from the
hoof.
276 Shoe with prominent arched inner proile; heels
have a wedge and calkin; 7 square nail-holes (4 and
3). L. 131mm. W. 119mm. Type 4. ?Drainage coll.
Late medieval. 1996R.2085.1
277 Shoe with no visible calkins or wedges, 6
large square nail-holes and well-rounded shape. L.
171
112mm. W. 99mm. Type 4. ?Drainage coll. 13th14th century. 1996R.2085.3
Fig 00
Almost certainly a fore-shoe. It has slight
distortion and damage to one branch that may
have occurred during loss from the hoof.
278 Shoe with rounded inner proile, worn and shallow calkins and 8 square nail-holes (3 nails in situ). L.
127mm. W. 115mm. Type 4. ?Drainage coll. Late
medieval. 1996R.2085.4
Fig 00
The calkins are shaped almost to a point,
which may indicate the shoe was for winter use.
Another example probably from the Drainage
coll. (1996R.2085.8) has calkins shaped to
‘chisel points’ that also suggest modiication to
winter conditions (pers. comm. Ken Smith).
279 Shoe with worn wedge/calkin on the heels and
6 square nail-holes. Wide web, almost lat, slightly
dished, with rounded inner proile. L. 123mm. W.
119mm. Type 4. From Petersfinger Farm. Late
medieval.2010.43.1
280 Shoe with one broad low calkin on one branch
but no wedge on the other, 6 square nail-holes, distinctly arched proile and a dished form. Some wear
evident at toe. L. (surviving) 106mm. W. 107mm.
Type 4. From Petersinger Farm. Probably 14th-15th
century. 2010.43.3
281 Plain edge shoe with one calkin and two of
the six nails present. L. 111mm. W. 107mm. Type
4. From Gomeldon, building 1. 13th-14th century.
Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and ig. 14, no. 40.
1964.74
282 Plain edge shoe with two calkins and ive of
the six nails present. L. 116mm. W.112mm. Type
4. From Gomeldon, building 1. 13th-14th century.
Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and ig. 14, no. 41.
1964.74
Fig 00
Since Cat 281-2 retained some of their
nails and were found in the same building the
excavators suggested that it may be evidence for
farriery. Clark cites these as early examples of
his type 4 (Clark 1995, 97).
283 Shoe, much corroded, with one calkin and
172
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
a wedge, 6 nail-holes and prominent arched inner
proile. L. 114mm. W. 112mm. Type 4. Casual ind
from the deserted village at Gomeldon. Probably
14th century. 1974.20
284 Shoe with single relatively high calkin and 6
square nail-holes. L. 132mm. W. 112mm. Type 4.
Found 1932 in Exeter Terrace, Salisbury. Probably
14th-15th century. 1996R.2082
285 Shoe with one calkin and wedge, both worn,
and probably 6 square nail-holes. L. 120mm. W.
122mm. Type 4. From Milford Street, Salisbury.
Probably late 15th-16th century. 1999R.801
Fig 00
Found at the bottom of a bell-founding pit
below a bell cope fragment (see Cat 21, page
75).
There are a further six medieval shoes from
the Drainage coll. (1999R.804, 806-8, 811
and 812.2-4) and one from Petersinger Farm
(2010.43.25).
Horseshoe nails
There are many horseshoe nails, of two types,
from Gomeldon deserted medieval village:
286 Nails of ‘iddle-key’ type. L. 27mm. Musty
and Algar 1986, 154 and fig. 14 (types 7c-d).
1967.148
Fig 00
These nails were common until the thirteenth century. See Cat 262 for a horse shoe
that would have taken nails of this type.
287 Nails of rectangular-headed type. L. 24mm.
Musty and Algar 1986, 154 and ig. 14 (types 7a-b).
1967.148
Fig 00
Probably thirteenth century or later. The
nail illustrated (ig. 00) is from the horseshoe
Cat 282.
Stirrups
The stirrups here are typical of so many
found in that unfortunately they lack a good
archaeologically dateable context but they do
have features in common with stirrups accepted
as medieval. We are most grateful to John Clark
for commenting on the stirrups, the discussion
of which is essentially his.
288 Stirrup. Trapezoidal form, with rounded lower
corners; asymmetrical; oval foot-rest with irregular
lozenge-shaped central cut; wide rectangular loop
for suspension from strap. H. 163mm. W. 128mm.
Drainage coll. SD615; 2007R.229
Fig 00
For the type see Ward Perkins 1940, 91 ig.
25 nos. 2 and 3. Although these are un-stratiied
stray inds (possibly from the Thames), Ward
Perkins’s mid thirteenth-century dating is acceptable (see also Clark 1995, 72-3 no. 83). A ‘split’
foot-rest is also found on an otherwise differently
shaped example, illustrated in Ward Perkins
(1940, ig. 25 no. 1), found in a thirteenthcentury storage jar (see Andrews and Dunning
1939, 303-6).
The stirrup is asymmetrical rather than just
bent out of shape (that is right and left stirrups
differ), which Ward Perkins considered typical
of the fourteenth century (see his ig. 23 no. 9);
however, the ones he cites, and similar examples from London (Clark 1995, 73-4 no. 85)
and Winchester (Goodall 1990e, 1042-3, no.
3879, ig. 332) all have ‘boxes’ or cover plates
in front of the suspension bar (possibly a later
development), so are not directly comparable.
An asymmetrical stirrup without a ‘box’ is capable of being used on either foot as it allows the
leathers to be fastened as required.
Based on a recent survey of the types and dating of post-medieval and modern horse equipment, John Clark (pers. comm.) is not aware of
stirrups similar to the Salisbury example that can
be irmly dated later. The nineteenth century did
see lighter, more curvilinear stirrups replacing,
or alongside, the chunky, D-shaped stirrups typical of the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, but
these are usually readily identiiable as factory
products, lacking the hand-crafted irregularities
of medieval times. Equally, the stirrup form
does not seem to feature in nineteenth-century
catalogues or illustrations. Thus on balance a
late thirteenth/fourteenth-century date for this
stirrup appears most likely.
Objects of Iron
289 Stirrup (AE). Trapezoidal form, with curved
foot-rest, oval, with turned down edges at front and
rear; rectangular-sectioned suspension bar for stirrup leather, protected by plain cover plate at front.
H. 125mm. W. 102mm. Drainage coll. SD613;
2007R.228
Fig 00
This form is known both in cast copper alloy
and wrought iron. For copper-alloy examples
see Clark 1995, 73 ig. 55 - an example from
173
the River Thames in the Museum of London
(O2587) - and other parallels quoted (ibid
74), and for wrought iron see Ward Perkins
1940, 94 ig. 26 no. 2 (MoL 7321). The type
is probably fourteenth- to fifteenth-century
in date; Clark (ibid 74) suggests a date in the
second half of the fourteenth century on the
basis of a fragment from a well-dated London
archaeological context.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Andrews, H. C. and Dunning, G. C. 1939:
‘A Thirteenth-Century Stirrup and StorageJar from Rabley Heath, Herts’, Antiq. J. 19,
303-12
Anon 1871: ‘Antiquities and Works of Art
Exhibited: by J. E. Nightingale, a brass key’,
Archaeol. J. 28, 248
Baker, D., Baker, E., Hassall, J. and
Simco, A. 1979: ‘Excavations in Bedford
1967-1977’, Beds. Archaeol. J. 13, 7-307
Bayley, J., Drury, P. and Spencer, B.
1984: ‘Exhibits at Ballots - 2. A medieval
mirror from Heybridge, Essex’, Antiq. J. 64,
399-402
Benson, R. and Hatcher, H. 1843: The
History of Old and New Sarum (vol. 6 of R. C.
Hoare, The History of Modern Wiltshire)
Biddle, M. (ed.) 1990: Artefacts from Medieval
Winchester Parts i & ii: Object and Economy
in Medieval Winchester, Winchester Stud. 7
(Oxford)
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176
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
2
7
4
8
3
11
9
10
Fig 36. Iron: Cat 2-4, 7-12, metal, wood, stone and leather working tools (1:2, mark on Cat 12 1:1)
12
5
Objects of Iron
177
Fig 37. Iron: Cat 5, carpenter’s axe head (1:2)
178
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
13
6
Fig 38. Iron: Cat 6, axe head; Cat 13, sickle blade (1:2, mark on Cat 6 1:1)
Objects of Iron
179
18
19
16
17
14
21
23
22
20
24
Fig 39. Iron: Cat 14, 16-24, knives (Cat 24 with bone handle) (1:2, marks on Cat 19, 23 1:1)
180
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
29
28
27
26
25
34
30
31
35
Fig 40. Iron: Cat 25-31, 34-5, knives (Cat 26 with wood, Cat 30 with horn handle, Cat 31, 34 with bone
handles) (1:2, mark on Cat 28 1:1)
Objects of Iron
42
181
44
39
43
36
45
46
48
Fig 41. Iron: Cat 36, 39, 42-6, 48, knives (Cat 42 with bone scales, Cat 43 with copper alloy, Cat 44 and
48 with bone, Cat 46 with leather) (1:2, marks on Cat 44, 46 1:1)
182
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
31
51
50
49
52
31
58
53
56
55
57
Fig 42. Iron: Cat 49-53, 55-8, knives (Cat 49, 51, 57-8 with bone/wood scales, Cat 49, 53, 56 with
copper alloy, Cat 57 with leather sheath) (1:2, marks on Cat 50-2, 57 1:1)
Objects of Iron
59
65
62
69
64
66
70
63
Fig 43. Iron: Cat 59, 62-4, knives (with copper alloy); Cat 65-6, 69-70, shears (1:2, marks on
Cat 63, 69 1:1)
183
184
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
74
73
71
72
76
77
75
80
Fig 44. Iron: Cat 71-7, shears: Cat 80, scissors (1:2, marks on Cat 71, 73-5, 80 1:1)
Objects of Iron
185
82
81
85
87
83
88
Fig 45. Iron: Cat 81-2 (Cat 82 in lead), cramps; Cat 83, tie bar; Cat 85, 87-8, wall-hooks
(1:2, except Cat 83 1:4)
186
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
89
90
91
94
97
99
101
92
103
98
95
100
102
Fig 46. Iron: Cat 89, wall anchor; Cat 90-1, staples; Cat 92, 94-5, 97-103, nails (1:2)
Objects of Iron
110
111
114
107
109
115
Fig 47. Iron: Cat 107, 109-11, nails; Cat 114, strap hinge; Cat 115, hinge terminal (1:2)
187
188
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
117
113
118
119
121
120
123
124
122
Fig 48. Iron: Cat 113, strap hinge; Cat 117, wall loop (in lead); Cat 118-20, hinge pivots (Cat 118 in lead);
Cat 121-2, bolts; cat 123, latch rest; Cat 124, rove (1:2)
Objects of Iron
189
126
127
125
128
129
Fig 49. Iron: Cat 125-7 (Cat 127 in lead), window bars; Cat 128-9, padlocks (1:2, except Cat 125 1:4)
190
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
130
131
132
133
134
13
137
Fig 50. Iron: Cat 130-4, padlock parts (Cat 133 copper alloy), Cat 136-7, padlock keys (1:2)
Objects of Iron
191
139
140
141
147
149
151
Fig 51. Iron: Cat 139-41, padlock keys; Cat 147, chest lock: Cat 149, 151, draw bolts (1:2)
192
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
153
155
156
154
158
157
176
177
179
193
180
181
Fig 52. Iron: Cat 153-8 (Cat 154 copper alloy), 176-7, 179-81, 193, keys (1:2)
Objects of Iron
193
195
205
207
208
206
210
213
233
216
237
219
Fig 53. Iron: Cat 195, 205-8, 210, 213, 216, 219, 233 (Cat 233 copper alloy), keys; Cat 237,
escutcheon plate (1:2)
194
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
238
242
241
239
240
240
Fig 54. Iron: Cat 238, shackles; Cat 239-42, bindings; Cat 244, drop handle (1:2, except Cat 238 1:4)
Objects of Iron
195
250
245
247
248
251
249
Fig 55. Iron: Cat 245, wax-pan; Cat 247-9, candle holders; Cat 250-1, hooks (1:2)
196
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
252
254
253
258
255
256
Fig 56. Iron: Cat 252-4, chains; Cat 255-8, swivel itting, ring, collar (1:2)
257
Objects of Iron
197
262
260
264
268
Fig 57. Iron: Cat 260, 262, 264-5, 268, 270, horseshoes (1:2)
265
270
198
Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 4
271
275
277
278
282
Fig 58. Iron: Cat 271, 275, 277-8, 282, horseshoes (1:2)
Objects of Iron
199
285
288
286
287
289
Fig 59. Iron: Cat 285, horseshoe; Cat 286-7, horseshoe nails; Cat 288-9,
stirrups (Cat 289 copper alloy) (1:2)