Swords of Type I found in Britain
Introduction
The following list of swords is not comprehensive and only represents those currently known to the author. They have been categorised using the Wheeler / Oakeshott 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 swords in this catalogue only include sword found in England, Scotland, Wales and surrounding isles. It does not include swords 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 swords possibly made in England as many examples of these have been found all over Europe.
A number of pommels have been discovered on the Portable Antiques Scheme website. Not all of them as yet have been incorporated into this list. It is recommended that you check the PAS database for additional finds.
Sword articles by Wheeler / Oakeshott Type
Swords found in Britain
Swords of Type I found in Britain Petersen Types: F, G, M, P, Q, Æ. 850AD? to 1025AD
Swords of Type II found in Britain Petersen Types: A, B, C, H, I. Norwegian, 750AD to 960AD
Swords of Type III found in Britain Petersen Types: D, E, R, S, T, U, V. Danish, 800AD to 950AD
Swords of Type IV found in Britain Petersen Types: K, O. Frankish, 790AD to 950AD
Swords of Type V found in Britain Petersen Types: L. English, 850AD to 975AD
Swords of Type VI found in Britain Petersen Types: Lv. Danish, 900AD to 1050AD
Swords of Type VII found in Britain Petersen Types: N, W, X. 830AD to 1100AD
Swords of Type VIII and IX found in Britain 900AD to 1300AD
Swords of Types Disc found in Britain 1050AD to 1300AD
Swords of Types Unknown found in Britain
Full Index of Swords from Britain
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Wheeler I, Petersen M
Like Rygh 489.
850AD? to 1025AD
In use from the prehistoric iron age in central Europe to as late as the C10th in Norway.
Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway: St. Cuthbert’s Churchyard
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Isle of Man, St. Johns: Balladoyne Churchyard
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England, Cumbria: Rampside Churchyard
- Current Location- Municipal Museum, Barrow-in-Furness BAWMS.09000
- Type- Grave find (in a Christian Churchyard). 850-900AD.
- Find Date- 1909
- Total Length- ?
- Blade- 40cm survives, single-edged.
- Hilt- Petersen type M, Wheeler type I
- Scabbard- fragments of iron imregnated wood were found
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, 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
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Yorkshire: York, Clifford Street
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England, Derbyshire: Repton (M)
- 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.
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Berkshire: Reading
- Current Location-
- Find Date-
- Total Length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Pommel missing. Hilt and guard decorated in gripping beasts.
- Scabbard-
- Comments- Rediscovered after 150 years after being considered lost. Made between c.750AD but probably buried just after 800AD.
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
- Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of London Vol.3. (1867) p.461
England, 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
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
Wheeler I, Petersen P, Q & AE
Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Islay: Ballinaby (Q)
- Current Location- National Museum of Scotland: X.IL 379
- Type-
- Find Date-
- Total Length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Q (Żabiński 2007)
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
Isle of Man, German: 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
- Comments-
- Bibliography-