Swords found in Britain

The following list of swords is not comprehensive and only represents those currently known to the author. They have been categorised using Wheelers typology. Low quality images have been included to assist with identification and it is not the authors intention to infringe any copyrights by doing so.
The sword in this catalogue only include sword found in England, Scotland, Wales and surrounding isles. It does not include sword from Ireland. The swords listed here were not all made in Britain, many of them being made in Scandinavia or main land Europe. In the same way it is not a list of sword possibly made in England as many examples of these have been found all over Europe.

Wheeler's Viking Sword Typology

Viking Age swords found in Britain

Petersen types M & Q. Rygh 489 & 493.
850AD? to 1025AD
In use from the prehistoric iron age in central Europe to as late as the C10th in Norway.

	Scotland, Kirkcudbrightshire, St. Cuthbert’s Churchyard Current Location- Kirkcudbrightshire Museum no. 2050 Type- Grave find – undated Find Date- Unknown Total Length- 80cm (broken) Blade- Double edged. Length 70cm (broken so probably longer), width 6cm. Hilt- Like R.489. Portions of wooden handle. Scabbard- Parts of wood remain. Bibliography- [GRIEG 1940:p.13]
No Picture	Cumbria, Rampside Churchyard Current Location- Municipal Museum, Barrow-in-Furness Type- Grave find (in a Christian Churchyard). 850-900AD. Find Date- before 1909 Total Length- ? Blade- ? Hilt- Petersen type M, Wheeler type I Scabbard- none Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.18]
No Picture	Cumbria, Ormside, Appleby-in-Westmoreland Current Location- Tullie House Museum Type- Grave find. 850-900AD. Find Date- before 1898 Total Length- 35.5” (Complete?) Blade- Length 31” (79cm) Hilt- Petersen type M, Wheeler type I Scabbard- none Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.18]
No Picture	Yorkshire, York, Clifford Street Current Location- Yorkshire Museum Type- Unknown Find Date- Unknown Total Length- N/A Blade- Missing Hilt- Petersen type M?. Only the undecorated guard of whale bone survives. Scabbard- none Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.96] [ROESDAHL 1981:p.114 YAB30]
No Picture	Isle of Man, Balladoyne Churchyard, St. Johns Current Location- Manx Museum Type- Grave find (in a Christian Churchyard). Undated. Find Date- Unknown Total Length- 32” (possible about 4” missing) Blade- no information Hilt- Petersen type M, Wheeler type I. No ornament. Part of the wooden grip remains. Scabbard- None Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.26]
	Derbyshire, Repton Current Location- Derby Museum Type- Grave find c.873AD Find Date- 1986? Total Length- 89.7cm Blade- length 77.3cm, width 6.2cm. Hilt- Petersen type M. grip constructed of strips covered in tabby weave textile. Scabbard- made from two lengths of wood, lined with hairy skin. Outside covered in leather. Bibliography- [BIDDLE and KJBLBYE-BIDDLE (1992):p.49]
	London, River Thames, Waterloo Bridge Current Location- London Museum A 3670. Was previously in the Laking collection. Type- River find, C9th Find Date- Unknown Total Length- (part of blade missing) Blade- no information Hilt- Classed by Wheeler as type I, by Bjorn as Type H? Both guards are striped with brass inlay. Bjorn considers the pommel to be missing? Scabbard- none Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.36] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78]
	London River Thames, ‘near London’ Current Location- London Museum A 17923 Type- River find, Not before 900AD. Find Date- Unknown Total Length- (part of blade missing) Blade- no information Hilt- Petersen type M, Wheeler type I. Part of a wooden handle survives, covered in a course linen. Scabbard- none Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.36] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78]

Related Types P, Y & AE

	Scotland, Elginshire, Strathspey Current Location- National Museum of Scotland. L.A. 1 Type- Unknown. Found in an excavation of a railway cutting. Find Date- Before 1864. Total Length- 88cm (Complete) Blade- Double edged. Length 77cm (complete), width 5cm. Probably pattern welded. Hilt- Petersen type P. Both cross-pieces are decorated with untwisted silver and copper wires. Scabbard- None Bibliography- [GRIEG 1940:p.159]
No Picture	Isle of Man, St John’s Kirk German Current Location- Manx Museum Type- Found in a field near a burial. Find Date- Unknown Total Length- (fragmentary) Blade- no information Hilt- Probably Petersen type P. Traces of silver ornament on pommel and guard. Scabbard- None Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.25-26]
No Picture	Berkshire, Tilehurst station Current Location- Reading Museum Type- Unknown, found during road widening. C10th Find Date- Sept. 1917. Total Length- 23” (part of blade missing) Blade- Double edged – cap and upper guard are not separate. Hilt- Petersen type Y Scabbard- None Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.58]

Petersen Types B, C & H. 750AD to 960AD

	Scotland, Bute Current Location- Bute Natural Museum Type- Unknown Find date- before 1911 Total length- 17.3cm (blade and pommel missing) Blade- 3cm remaining attached to hilt and 6 other iron fragments. Width 5.5cm. Hilt- like Petersen fig.85 (Type H). pommel missing. Small remains of wood still attached to tang. Scabbard- remains of wood still attached to two of the blade fragments Bibliography- [GRIEG 1940:p.165]
	Scotland, Islay Current Location- Lost Type- Unknown Find date- before 1776 Total length- Blade- Hilt- like Rygh 494. Pommel cap missing. The upper and lower cross-pieces were once plated with copper or bronze ribs. Scabbard- Bibliography- [PENNANT 1776:pl. XLIV] [ANDERSON 1872:p.567 no.4] [GRIEG 1940:p.165] [GRAHAM-CAMPBELL 2004:p211-222 fig.4]
	Herts, River Lea, Enfield Current Location Prince Ladislaus Odescalchi Collection, Rome. Blade- Hilt- Petersen type C Bibliography- [LAKING 1920:p.16] [WHEELER 1927:p.34, 53] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.12,60] [OAKESHOTT 1960:p135] [WILSON 1965:p52(no.7)] Comments- from a possible boat burial
No Picture	London, River Thames, Vauxhall Current Location- ? Blade- Hilt- Petersen type H Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.37] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.81] Comments-
No Picture	London, River Thames, Mortlake Current Location- ? Blade- single-edged Hilt- none Bibliography- [OAKESHOTT 1960:p135] Comments- Oakeshott suggests that this blade may have belonged to a type II sword.

Petersen Types R, S & T. 800AD? to 900AD?

	Isle of Man Cronk Moar Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type S Bibliography- [BERSU and WILSON 1966:p.72] Comments- found with remains of scabbard
File:Sword london.jpg x150px	London Current Location- Blade- None Hilt- Petersen type R. Only the pommel of the sword survives Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78] [WHEELER 1927:p.53] Comments-
File:Sword temple.jpg x150px	London, River Thames, Temple Church Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type S Bibliography- [PEIRCE 2002:p.104] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.77,80] Comments- also known as “Earl of Pembroke Sword”
File:Sword chertsey.jpg x150px	London, Chertsey Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type S Bibliography- [PEIRCE 2002:p.98][1] Comments-

Petersen Types K & O. 790AD to 950AD

	Cumbria, Hesket-in-Forest Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type O Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.19] Comments-
	Berkshire, River Kennet at Reading Current Location- ? Blade- Point missing 25.5” long Hilt- Petersen type O or K? Rivet hole hence cap missing. Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.58] Comments- Remaining fragments of oak grip. Part of an oak? scabbard is also still attached to the blade.
	London, River Thames, Kew Current Location- British Museum 1891, 0905 3 Blade- Total length 753mm, blade length 630mm. blade engraved with makers mark, INGELRll. On the reverse engraved with SITANBI or IBNATIS (?) Hilt- Classed as a Petersen type O by Peirce and as Peteren type Q on the British Museum web site. Missing pommel Bibliography- [PEIRCE 2002:p.90] [2] Comments- Remains of wooden sheath on sword blade.
	London, Fetter Lane Current Location- ? Blade- None Hilt- Gilt silver pommel with nielloed engraved pattern Bibliography- [OAKESHOTT 1960:p.136][3] Comments- the BM website dates this pommel to the late C8th.

Petersen Types L. 850AD to 975AD

	Ecclefechan in Dumfriesshire Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927: p.35] Comments-
File:Sword hurbuck.jpg x150px	Hurbuck, Durham Current Location- British Museum Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][PEIRCE 2002:p.76] Comments-
	Yorkshire, Gilling West Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [THOMPSON 2004:p.109] [ROESDAHL 1981:p.44] [WATKIN 1986:p.93-99] Comments-
	Yorkshire, Wensley Churchyard Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [THOMPSON 2004:p.110] [DAVIDSON 1962:p54] [WILSON 1965: no.9] Comments-
File:Sword bedale.jpg x150px	Yorkshire, Bedale Current Location- British Museum Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35] Comments-
	Isle of Man, Ballaugh Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.22][WILSON 2008:p.54] Comments-
	Isle of Man, St. Maughold Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.23] Comments- missing pommel
File:Sword nottingham.jpg x150px	Nottingham Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35] Comments- Wheeler identifies this sword as probably being this type but states that the sword is damaged.
File:Sword hauxton.jpg x150px	Cambridgeshire, Hauxton Mill Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35] Comments-
	Norfolk, River Wensum, Norwich Current Location- British Museum (54, 11-7, 12) Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][MARGESEN 1997:p.10-11] [WILSON 1965: no.8] Comments- Unknown find date. Presented to the BM in 1854.
	Norfolk, Gooderstone Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WILSON 1965: no.3] Comments-
File:Sword santon.jpg x150px	Norfolk, Santon Downham Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.12,13] Comments-
	Suffolk, Kersey Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WILSON 1965: no.5] Comments-
	Oxford, Abingdon Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [THOMPSON 2004:p.112][WILSON 1965:p52(no.1)] Comments-
	Oxford, Wallingford Bridge Current Location- Ashmolean Museum Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][THOMPSON 2004:p.113] Comments-
	London, River Thames, Westminster Current Location- Ashmolean Museum Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35][LAKING 1920:fig.15c] [DAVIDSON 1962:p54] [WILSON 1965:p.52 (no.x)] Comments-
File:Sword windsor.jpg x150px	London, River Thames, Windsor Current Location- British Museum Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35] Comments-
File:Sword london.jpg x150px	London, River Thames Current Location- British Museum Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.35] Comments-
	Unprovenanced Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WILSON 1965: no.13] Comments-

Petersen Types L 'variant' 900AD? to 1050AD?

File:Sword camphill.jpg x150px	Yorkshire, York, Camphill Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.15] Comments- missing pommel
	Lincs, River Witham, Lincoln Current Location- British Museum Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [PEIRCE 2002:p.77] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.71] [DAVIDSON 1962:p.56] [OAKESHOTT 1960:p.134] [4] Comments- missing pommel
	Norfolk, Mileham Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Bibliography- [WILSON 1965: no.7] Comments-
	London, River Thames, Staines Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.37] Comments-
	London, River Thames, Shifford Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [THOMPSON 2004:p.114] [DAVIDSON 1962:p.56] Comments-
	London, River Thames, Brentford Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Bibliography- [WHEELER 1927:p.37] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78] [WILSON 1965:p52(no.3)] Comments-
File:Sword temple.jpg x150px	London, River Thames, off the Temple Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78,80] [DAVIDSON 1962:p.56] Comments-
	London, River Thames, Kings Reach Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type L Bibliography- [PEIRCE 2002:p.80] Comments-
	London, River Thames, Vauxhall, Wandsworth Reach Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Bibliography- [LAKING 1920:fig.15d] [WHEELER 1927:p.37] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.78] [WILSON 1965:p.52 (no.20)] Comments- Wilson quotes Laking fig.15d as being from Vauxhall. The tip of the sword is from another find from Putney Reach.

Petersen Types U, V & X (early style) 850AD to 1000AD?

Petersen Type U, V

	Isle of Man, Ballateare Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type V Bibliography- [BERSU and WILSON 1966:p.52][5] Comments- found with remains of scabbard
File:Sword nene.jpg x150px	Cambs, River Nene Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Bibliography- [DAVIDSON 1962:p56] Comments-
	Herts, River Lea, Hertford Current Location- Stolen from Hertford Museum Blade- Hilt- Bibliography- [ADAMS 1974:p.155-158] Comments-
	Herts, River Lea, Edmonton Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type U Bibliography- [PIERCE 2002:p.110] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.60] [WILSON 1965:p52(no.6)] Comments-

Petersen Type X

File:Sword workington.jpg x150px	Cumbria, Workington, Lake District Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type W or X Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.21-22] Comments-
	Isle of Man, Knoc-y-doonee Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type X Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.23] Comments-
File:Sword yorkX1.jpg x150px	York Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type X Bibliography- [ROESDAHL 1981:p.65 D15] YM 551.45.48 [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.93] Comments-
	York Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type X Bibliography- [ROESDAHL 1981:p.65 D15] [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.93] Comments-
File:Sword nottinghamX.jpg x150px	Notts, Nottingham Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type X Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.15-16] Referred to in [ROESDAHL 1981:p.65 D15] Comments-
File:Sword farndon church.jpg x150px	Notts, Farndon Church, Newark Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type X Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.71] Comments-

Brazil Nut 950AD to 1300AD?

1000AD to 1300AD?
No known swords from Britain

1050AD to 1300AD?

Lancs, Claughton Hall Current Location- Now missing Blade- Hilt- Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.18] Comments-

Viking Age swords not covered by Wheeler

	Cawood Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Bibliography- [6] [7] Comments-
File:Sword canwick.jpg x150px	Lincolnshire, Canwick Common, Lincoln Current Location- British Museum Type- Find Date- Unknown Total Length- (Complete) Blade- Illegible script of silver inlay Hilt- Guard of Petersen type Q but pommel different. Scabbard- none Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.99]
	Reading Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Pommel missing. Hilt and guard decorated in gripping beasts. Bibliography- [EAST nd:p.2] Comments- Rediscovered after 150 years after being considered lost. Made between c.750AD but probably buried just after 800AD.
File:Sword raven.jpg x150px	Cambridgeshire, Raven’s Willow nr. Peterbourgh Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Petersen type N Bibliography- [BJORN and SHETELIG 1940:p.61,63-64] Comments- Later half of C9th
	London, Battersea Current Location- Blade- Hilt- Tea Cosy pommel Bibliography- DAVIDSON 1962:p.57] [WISON 1965:p32-33 no.1] Comments-

Swords that are too decayed to identify

Swords so far unidentified by the authors

Swords

<nocite> ADAMS1974 BERSU1966 BJORN1940 DAVIDSON1962 LAKING1920 MARGESEN1997 OAKESHOTT1960 PEIRCE2002 ROESDAHL1981 THOMPSON2004 WATKIN1986 WILSON1965 WILSON2008 WHEELER1927 </nocite> <biblio force=false>#Template:Bib</biblio>