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Description: | A copper alloy padlock that dates from the medieval period. The padlock is 34.5mm long, 20.5mm wide and 24.8mm thick. It is essentially ovoid in plan but with six equally spaced projections round the edge, one at the top, one at the bottom, and two on each side, which are rectangular. The main part of the padlock is rectangular in section. On the front of the padlock is a small rectangular key hole. This is covered by a key hole cover, hinged at the top, which covers the entire front of the padlock. This is ovoid in plan and is convex. It is worn so it is not clear whether this was decorated like a face or left plain like an egg.Projecting back from the main body of the padlock is a double lug which extends from the uppermost of one of the side projections on the right. There is iron corrosion round the lugs and it appears that there was an iron pin that joined the two lugs, perhaps to form a hinge, and an iron element that slotted between the two lugs. This element was probably part of the mechanism and seems to have continued into the body of the padlock. There is also iron corrosion on the corresponding place on the left side, and there would probably have been similar copper alloy lugs, but these are missing. It is conjectured that there would have been an iron bolt that joined the two areas, hinged at the right, and that it was this bolt that was released by unlocking the padlock. There do not appear to be any other moving parts that would enable the padlock to be released.The padlock is corroded and the key hole cover is attached by corrosion at the base, though the hinge at the top is broken, allowing the cover to move, partially revealing the key hole. The metal has a dark grey green patina.A similar padlock is discussed and illustrated on pages 2866 -2871 of "Finds From Medieval York" (The Archaeology of York fascicule 17/15) by Ottaway and Rogers (2002, York Archaeological Trust). This is dated to the early fourteenth century, though the discussion mentions parallels from the late twelfth century onwards. A date of 1150 - 1350 thus seems likely for this example.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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