Wirral's Hidden History Revealed
Fun finds
Find From Wirral – Fun finds During summer while the crops are on the fields our opportunities to dig are limited so the stream of finds being verified by the Portable Antiquities Scheme lessens. This gives us an opportunity to show some finds that aren’t old enough to be considered by PAS but interest us. In amongst the tin cans, modern coins,…
Mortar Vessel
Finds From Wirral – Mortar Vessel Here is a lovely little item. A copper alloy miniature mortar vessel which has been examined at PAS who have dated it to between AD1400-AD1600 and have said it is a toy! A similar designed but full sized mortar was recovered from the Mary Rose and the link to the full PAS description including the link…
Spindle Whorl
Finds From Wirral – Spindle Whorl This is a rather beautiful lead spindle whorl which would have been used for spinning thread. It has some minimal decoration but the amazing thing was that when the soil was removed from the central hole it was found to contain a small piece of string /thread. The string /thread as can be seen from the…
Cartwheel Coin
Finds From Wirral – Cartwheel Not old enough to be considered for a submission to PAS but interesting nonetheless is this “cartwheel” penny of George III. Called a cartwheel because of the pronounced ridge around the edge it is dated 1797 and is huge. Much bigger than the pre decimal pennies that many of us remember.
Brooch
Finds From Wirral – Brooch Unique ID: LVPL-ED3F75 Object type certainty: Certain Workflow status: Awaiting validation Treasure case 2024 T902 Description: Recently declared as treasure and donated to Liverpool museum by the landowner. A complete silver annular brooch dating to the medieval period (c.AD 1250-1350). The brooch has a circular frame and circular cross section. It has a narrowed constriction for the placement…
Bag Seals
Finds From Wirral – Bag Seals Although younger than the 300 years that PAS Liverpool normally consider the limit for recording finds these are considered of area interest. They are three bag seals from bone meal bags used in agriculture. They are from a firm called Proctor and Ryland who operated a factory at Saltney on the River Dee near Chester. On…
Ceramic Toy Marbles
Finds From Wirral – Ceramic Toy Marbles Three (well actually two and a half) ceramic toy marbles Dating from AD 1750-1900 these are spotted while field walking. Initially they look like lead shot but are far too light and obviously don’t register on a metal detector as they are fired clay pipe material. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1149510 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1149512 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1158435
Toy Gun
Finds From Wirral – Toy Gun These are fragments of handles of small lead toy guns. You can see the trace of a chequered pattern on the left and a much more decorated pattern on the right one. Also on the right one at the top you can see the remnants of the two rivet holes. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1149471 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1053103
Hawking Whistle
Finds From Wirral – Hawking Whistle An incomplete and flattened tin alloy hawking whistle dating AD 1700-1800. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1075810
Spur
Finds From Wirral – Spur A copper alloy spur dating from AD1600-1700. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1149504
Copper Alloy Mount
Finds From Wirral – Copper Alloy Mount An incomplete copper alloy mount with relief decoration. PAS state one figure on the left kneeling with one on the right wielding an object over their shoulder. It is dated AD 1500 -1700 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1149540
Copper Alloy Bells
Find From Wirral – Copper Alloy Bells A pair of copper alloy bells dating from AD1550-1800. Both retain their original iron peas and ring when shaken. These are likely to have been animal bells. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1090870 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1081404
Buckles
Find From Wirral – Buckle A double looped buckle dating from AD 1570-1700. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1204135 Another buckle this dated from AD 1500-1650. The pin still operates well. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1099721 A pair of very similar decorated buckles dated AD 1350-1450. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1099013 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1116297
Clothing Tags
Finds From Wirral – Clothing Tags A decorated hooked clothing tag. This dates from AD 1450-1500. Close examination shows a pattern of three flowers The three holes would have allowed the tag to be sewn onto an item of clothing and the hook at the lower end of the photograph would have fastened into a loop. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1052559 Some more clothing tags. All…
Air Rifle Shot
Finds From Wirral – Air Rifle Shot These are shot from a specific air weapon dating from the early 1800’s. They would have been shot from a very expensive rifled barrel air rifle. Each shot has 10 rifling grooves which fit in grooves in the barrel in order to make the bullet spin for accuracy. There is a similar weapon in the…