Find Spot record 1676/2/0 - Medieval badge, 13 Wood Street

A late medieval bronze badge was found under the floor of 13 Wood Street. Possibly a retainer's badge of the late C15th or early C16th

{1} The bronze object was found under a building floor of a house on the north-east side of the churchyard at Geddington, at a depth of c.3ft. The location is within 100yds of the site of the Royal Hunting Lodge at Geddington.
Originally about 9.25cm in diameter it shows a falcon with wings and claws outstretched. Above the claws there is a five-petalled rose. This design is placed within a sexfoil raised border, outside which there is a series of alternately large and small triangular projections decorated with scrolls. The basi pattern is stamped in repousse and the detail of the ornament is worked from the front. The mount was originally gilded. It has been damaged particularly around the beak of the bird. At the back there is a small bronze loop probably for the pin and a catch opposite, which suggests that it was probably worn as a badge.
Although the falcon is best known as a Yorkist badge it was also used as a Lancastrian badge particularly at the end of the C14th. It also continued in use into the Tudor period. The rose was also a very popular Tudor badge. The falcon and the rose appear together on the banner of Anne Bullen. The falcon was used more widely. On his tomb in Norfolk Sir Edmund de Thorpe (d.1417) is shown wearing the badge of a falcon. It seems likely that the object is a retainer's badge of the late C15th or early C16th.
Illustration included.

{2} A late medieval bronze badge decorated with a falcon and a Tudor rose was found in the N.E. side of the churchyard, not far from the site of the Royal Hunting Lodge;

<1> Steane J.M., 1975, A Late Medieval Badge, p.145-6 (checked) (Journal). SNN34847.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

Record last edited

Feb 2 2021 2:08PM