Context (Analysis)
Catalogue card for 1923.1169 in Cyril Fox's hand notes: 'Roman or medieval'
Event Date
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card for 1923.1169 A: 'Three latch-keys of iron'
Event Date
Author: maa

Context (References)
cf: Museum of London (1940) 'Medieval Catalogue' London: London Museum Catalogues
Event Date 1940
Author: David Kay

Context (Analysis)
Cf. London Museum Medieval Catalogue, especially Figure 44, no. 5. The Catalogue notes that such keys are for use in barrel-padlocks, rather than as latch keys, and have been recovered from Viking contexts and continued in use throughout the Medieval period. English examples are reported to typically have the bit set laterally to the shank, though this is sometimes also the case in Scandinavian examples. Further, it is noted (p. 148) that whilst the Museum of London specimens were previously thought to be Roman, they are now clearly recognised as Medieval in origin. As such, the Period field has been changed from '?Roman; ?Medieval' to ' Medieval', and the Place field from '?Europe' to 'Europe; ?British Isles'.
Event Date 15/1/2019
Author: David Kay

Description (Physical description)
Barrel-padlock key with spatulate handle terminating in a small circular loop, oblong shank, and bit set perpendicularly to shank with central 'T'-shaped piercing.
Event Date 15/1/2019
Author: David Kay