Original, Fascinating Dark Ages Period, 7th Century Long Latch Lifter. Anglo Saxon Period Artefact

This would make a fabulous Inexpensive gift for those intrigued by early medieval England, but also incredibly inexpensive for such an impressive and original ancient conversational piece. Effectively it was the earliest form of door key for a home. One places it through an outside door's recess cut for the latch lifter, pushed through, the latch lifter drops down to hook upon the inside latch, and as it is pulled up and thus opening the door from the outside. The Dark Ages are estimated to have stretched from 500 to 1066 AD. Essentially from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Battle of Hastings in Britain.

After the end of Roman Britain, the land became a melting pot of Britons, Anglo Saxons and Vikings – all of whom variously shaped the character of the countryside. When the Anglo-Saxons arrived in Britain they were greeted by crumbling Roman cities, bridges and roads. Their impressions of this worn landscape can be seen in many of their Old English place names, which marked them out as remnants of a bygone age. For example, Chester was named ceaster by the Anglo-Saxons, whose Latin root means ‘military camp’.

Other place names hint at the Anglo-Saxons’ imaginative landscape – the supernatural creatures they believed to inhabit the groves and valleys. Just outside Durham there is a village called Shincliffe, which means ‘slope of the spectre or demon’ in Old English. The lady of the house would wear it around her girdle on a hook. They were such an important and highly symbolic part of a well-to-do lady's life, they were often buried with her upon her death, along with brooches or buckles. See Fuchs, K. et al. Die Alamannen, Stuttgart, 1997 for discussion of male and female grave assemblages of this period. From the family collection of a London gentleman; formed in the late 1940s-1950s; thence by descent. The latch lifters are typical of female grave assemblages (along with brooches, beads, buckles and other items of personal adornment" Total length 10 inches long. Very strong and good, sound condition. As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity.

Code: 21903