Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card (typed) for 1923.276: '18 iron keys... also two spring-pins from padlocks'
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Context (Found together / assemblage)
Found in bag of 18 keys (1904.357, 1907.202, 1910.84 A-C, 1911.2, 1917.110, 1917.116, 1918.143, 1918.204, 1923.256.3-4, 1923.276.11, BB 1912.676, TEMP.00724-00727) with a note reading 'N. P.' [no provenance].
Event Date
Author: David Kay

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card (original) for 1923.276: 'Ten Eighteen iron keys.'
Event Date 1923
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card notes: 'No provenance. Roman and later.'
Event Date 1923
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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

Description (Physical description)
Possible night latch or slide key, with a simple symmetrical design forming the central aperture in the oval bit. The shank is long and appears to end in a flattened spatulate shape, though the terminus is broken. The entire object is highly corroded.
Event Date 20/11/2018
Author: David Kay

Context (Analysis)
Although differing somewhat in form (an oval rather than 'D'-shaped bit, long shank, lack of bow) the general form of the bit, especially the aperture pattern, suggests this object may be a night latch or slide key. See the Portable Antiquities Scheme database for examples of this object type (e.g. CORN-201C8B, LANCUM-F9FE85 or DUR-104936) dated as Post Medieval. However, the London Museum Medieval Catalogue lists similar Type IX 'casket-keys' (see Plate XXIX, no. 6) as dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. As such, the Period field has been filled as '?Medieval; ?Post Medieval'.
Event Date 20/11/2018
Author: David Kay