PAS Finds

PAS Finds: week ended 3 June 2022

PAS Finds: week ended 3 June 2022

My selection of the detecting finds recorded at the PAS for the week ended 3 June 2022.

Featured Find

Medieval star ceiling decoration

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By SA2.0
Object type: Mount
Period: Medieval
Primary material: Lead alloy
Date found: 03/08/2022
Location: Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire

A Medieval lead mount in the form of a star which was probably a ceiling decoration. A ceiling decorated with stars is a frequent design in buildings associated with many faiths and cultures, with the earliest know example being from the 2nd century BC. The use of lead star-shaped mounts probably dates from about the middle of the 14th century. The use of these stars in the rooms of various buildings lead to these rooms being known as the Starred Chamber.

Star chamber at Ordsall Hall

The manor of Ordsall Hall in Lancashire came into the possession of the Radclyffe family in about 1335 and in 1360, Sir John Radclyffe built the Star Chamber. It is suggested that this room was used to conduct official business including small court cases1 Stars of about the same size as this find adorn the ceiling.

Star chamber at Ordsall Hall. Photo: Michael D Beckwith, CC BY SA2.0

Local legend has it that Guy Fawkes hatched the Gunpowder plot of 1605 in this room. There’s some circumstantial support for the theory but no firm evidence.2

Star Chamber at Bolsover Castle

Star chamber in the Little Castle, Bolsover Castle. Photo: Dave Merrett CC By SA2.0

The ceiling in the Star Chamber at Bolsover has been restored in 2000 to what it was like when built in the early 17th century. It is suggested that it is called the Star Chamber because that’s the name an auditor gave it when doing an inventory after the death William Cavendish, who had it built, in 1676.3

Star chamber at the Palace of Westminster

The most famous use of the term Star Chamber is to an English court of justice that sat at the Palace of Westminster in the 15th to 17th century. It’s name also probably comes from the stars on the ceiling of the chamber. Although its origins are not certain, it is during the reign of Edward III (1312 – 1377) that first mention is made of a chambre de estoiles from which members of the King’s Council would exercise jurisdiction.4

Although the court was initially well regarded it later began to impose arbitrary judgements and gruesome punishments and was abolished by the Habeas Corpus Act of 1640.

Ceiling moved to Leasowe Castle

When the chamber was demolished in the 19th century, the ceiling was moved to Leasowe Castle on the Wirral peninsular.

Leasowe Castle – Star Chamber restaurant

The ceiling can now be seen at the Star Chamber restaurant at Leasowe Castle. It is apparently the perfect venue to enjoy Afternoon Tea, which looks very nice at £14.95 per person.5

References

  1. https://ordsallhall.com/explore/the-building/
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordsall_Hall
  3. https://voyagerofhistory.wordpress.com/2020/08/10/the-star-chamber-at-bolsover-castle/
  4. http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/starchamber.htm
  5. http://leasowecastle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/LC-Afternoon-Tea-menu-WEB.pdf

Selection of other finds

Photo: Derby Museums Trust CC By SA2.0

17th century toy figure of a lady

Dating to 1500 – 1650, this is a lead-alloy toy figure of a lady.
Photo: Derby Museums Trust CC By SA2.0

Cockerel pipe tamper

Just to illustrate the variety of things that can adorn the top of a pipe tamper, here is one with a cockerel.
Photo: Kent County Council

Swastika brooch

Plate swastika brooches were about in 1st – 2nd Roman Britain and also in the 5th century. The Roman ones tended to have narrower arms and so this is thought to be the later variety. It is a Find of Note.
Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By SA2.0

George II halfpenny with grooves

This George II halfpenny with grooves filed around the edge has been designated a Find of Note of Regional Importance. It is unlikely to be a love token and the PAS record suggests it might have been done out of boredom; it was found on the Isle of Wight, so possibly (only joking).
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