Swords of Types Unknown found in Britain

Swords of Types Unknown found in Britain
Swords
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Swords of Type I found in Britain   Swords of Type II found in Britain   Swords of Type III found in Britain   Swords of Type IV found in Britain   Swords of Type V found in Britain   Swords of Type VI found in Britain   Swords of Type VII found in Britain   Swords of Type VIII and IX found in Britain   Swords of Types Disc found in Britain   Swords of Types Unknown found in Britain

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This article's completion rating is 3 out of 5. Article data has been collected but still needs to be summarised.

This article's completion rating is 3 out of 5. Article data has been collected but still needs to be summarised.

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

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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

Click on the arrows in the header row to sort. To sort by multiple columns hold down the shift key while ordering the columns. Country & County Wheeler Petersen Name Scotland, Argyll and Bute II H Argyll, Lamlash, Mill Hill Scotland, Argyll and Bute II H Argyll, Luss, Boiden Scotland, Argyll and Bute II H Bute Scotland, Argyll and Bute  ? Lost Bute, Drumachlay Scotland, Argyll and Bute V L Colonsay, Machrins Scotland, Argyll and Bute VII  ? Colonsay, Kiloran Bay Scotland, Argyll and Bute  ? Lost Colonsay, Traigh Nam Barck Scotland, Argyll and Bute  ? Lost Bute, Gigha Scotland, Argyll and Bute I Q Islay, Ballinaby (Q) Scotland, Argyll and Bute II B Islay, Ballinaby (B) Scotland, Argyll and Bute II H Islay, Ballinaby (H) Scotland, Argyll and Bute  ? Lost Tiree, Cornaigbeg Scotland, Clackmannanshire V L Harvieston Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway V L Ecclefechan, Torbeckhill Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway I M St. Cuthbert’s Churchyard Scotland, Highland II H Balnakeil Scotland, Highland IV K Ardnamurchan, Swordle Bay Scotland, Highland III D Eigg Scotland, Highland VII W Eigg, Grave III Scotland, Highland II  ? Eigg, Kildonnan Scotland, Moray IX Y Strathspey Scotland, Outer Hebridies IV O Eriskay Scotland, Outer Hebridies  ? Lost Harris, St Kilda Scotland, Outer Hebridies  ? Lost South Uist, Bebencula Scotland, Orkney II H Rousay, Grave 11 Scotland, Orkney II H Rousay, Grave 12 Scotland, Orkney II H Rousay, Grave 34a Scotland, Orkney II H Rousay, Grave 34b Scotland, Orkney II H Rousay, Sweindrow Scotland, Orkney VII X Sanday, Lamba Ness Scotland, Orkney VII X Sanday, Sties Scotland, Orkney II H Sanday, Scar Scotland, Orkney II H Westray, Pierowall Scotland, Orkney  ?  ? Westray, Pierowall Links Scotland, Orkney II H Westray, Papa Scotland, Perth  ?  ? Watergate Scotland, Shetland  ? Lost Sumburgh Airport Scotland, West Dumbartonshire II I Dumbarton Rock Isle of Man, St. John's I M Balladoyne Churchyard Isle of Man, Ballaugh V L Ballaugh Isle of Man, Jurby VII  ? Ballateare Isle of Man, Jurby III S Cronk Moar Isle of Man, Jurby III S Jurby, St. Patrick Churchyard Isle of Man, Jurby  ?  ? Ballachrink Isle of Man, Andreas VII  ? Knoc-y-doonee Isle of Man, Malew  ?  ? Malew Parish Churchyard Isle of Man, Braddan  ?  ? Old Kirk Braddan Isle of Man, Patrick  ?  ? Ballabrooie Isle of Man, German I P St John’s Kirk German Isle of Man, Maughold V L St Maughold Isle of Man, German  ?  ? St. Johns, Tynwald Hill Isle of Man IV O (O) Wales VI Lv Wales Wales, Pembrokeshire -  ? Pembrokeshire, Smalls Reef Wales, Powys V L Builth Wells England, Berkshire V L Drayton England, Berkshire Disc - Newbury England, Berkshire I M Reading England, Berkshire  ?  ? Reading (-) England, Berkshire  ?  ? Shepperton, Cowey Stakes England, Berkshire IV  ? River Kennet, Reading England, Berkshire VII  ? River Thames, Bray England, Berkshire V L River Thames, Windsor (L1) England, Berkshire V L River Thames, Windsor (L2) England, Berkshire II H Sonning England, Berkshire IX Y Tilehurst station England, Cambridgeshire V L Hauxton Mill England, Cambridgeshire  ?  ? King's Dyke England, Cambridgeshire VII N Peterbourgh, Raven’s Willow England, Cambridgeshire  ?  ? River Cam, Clayhithe England, Cambridgeshire VIII - River Great Ouse England, Cambridgeshire VII  ? River Nene England, Cambridgeshire Disc - Whittlesea Mere England, Cumbria II H Aspatria England, Cumbria VII - Cumwhitton, Grave 3 England, Cumbria V L Cumwhitton, Grave 4 England, Cumbria VII X Cumwhitton, Grave 5 England, Cumbria V L Cumwhitton, Grave 6 England, Cumbria VII X Cumwhitton, Morland England, Cumbria IV O Hesket-in-Forest England, Cumbria I M Ormside, Appleby-in-Westmoreland England, Cumbria I M Rampside Churchyard England, Cumbria  ? Lost West Seaton England, Cumbria  ?  ? Witherslack England, Cumbria VII X Workington, Lake District England, Derbyshire V L Ingleby mound 1 England, Derbyshire II H Ingleby mound 7 England, Derbyshire I M Repton (M) England, Derbyshire V L Repton (L) England, Derbyshire VII X Repton (X) England, Devon  ?  ? Exeter England, Dorset VI Lv River Frome, Wareham England, Durham V L Hurbuck England, Essex IV  ? Colchester England, Hertfordshire II C River Lea, Enfield England, Hertfordshire VII  ? River Lea, Edmonton England, Hertfordshire VII  ? River Lea, Hertford England, Lancashire Disc - Claughton Hall England, Lancashire  ?  ? Eaglesfield England, Lancashire  ?  ? Heysham England, Lancashire V L Inskip England, Lincolnshire VI Z Lincoln, Canwick Common England, Lincolnshire V L River Witham, Fiskerton England, Lincolnshire VI Lv River Witham, Lincoln England, Lincolnshire Disc - River Witham (1) England, Lincolnshire Disc - River Witham (2) England, London -  ? Battersea England, London  ?  ? London England, London IV  ? Fetter Lane England, London V L River Thames (L) England, London VI Lv River Thames (Lv) England, London VI Lv River Thames, Brentford England, London IV O River Thames, Kew England, London VI Lv River Thames, Kings Reach England, London II H River Thames, Mortlake England, London I M River Thames, ‘near London’ England, London VI Lv River Thames, Shifford England, London VI Lv River Thames, Staines England, London III S River Thames, Temple Church England, London VI Lv River Thames, Wandsworth Reach England, London II H River Thames, Waterloo Bridge England, London V L River Thames, Westminster England, London II H River Thames, Vauxhall (H) England, London VII U River Thames, Vauxhall (U) England, London - Lost River Thames, Vauxhall (-) England, London  ?  ? Sherborne Lane England, London  ?  ? Westminster Palace England, London III R London(R) England, Norfolk IV O Norfolk (O) England, Norfolk IV O Illington England, Norfolk V L Gooderstone England, Norfolk V L Norwich England, Norfolk VI Lv Mileham England, Norfolk V L River Wensum, Norwich England, Norfolk V L Santon Downham England, Norfolk V L Norfolk (L) England, Norfolk V L Thetford England, Northumberland Disc - Northumberland England, Nottinghamshire VII X Newark, Farndon Church England, Nottinghamshire IX Y Nottingham (Y) England, Nottinghamshire VII X Nottingham (X) England, Oxfordshire V L Abingdon England, Oxfordshire VI Lv Wallingford Bridge England, Suffolk V L Kersey England, Suffolk V L River Orwell England, Surrey III S Chertsey England, Surrey V L Shepperton, Shepperton Ranges England, Yorkshire V L Acomb England, Yorkshire V L Ainsbrook England, Yorkshire VI Lv Bedale, Camphill England, Yorkshire V L Bedale Hoard England, Yorkshire -  ? Cawood England, Yorkshire V L Gilling West England, Yorkshire V L Ingleton, Scales Moor England, Yorkshire  ?  ? Kildale England, Yorkshire V L Wensley Churchyard England, Yorkshire VII X York (X1) England, Yorkshire VII X York (X2) England, Yorkshire I M York, Clifford Street England, Yorkshire IV K York, Coppergate (K) England, Yorkshire V L York, Coppergate (L) England, Yorkshire V L York, Fishergate (L1) England, Yorkshire V L York, Fishergate (L2) England, Yorkshire VII X York, Fishergate (X)

Unclassified swords - too decayed

Swords that are too decayed to identify

Isle of Man, Old Kirk Braddan

No Picture

Current Location- Manx Museum Type- Find Date- Total Length- fragment Blade- only the upper part survives Hilt- missing, no guard or pommel Scabbard- none Bibliography- Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 p.23

Unclassified swords - Lost

Scotland, Sumburgh Airport, Dunrossness, Shetland

LOST

Current Location- Lost Type- Find Date- Total length- Blade- Hilt- Unknown (Żabiński 2007). Scabbard - Comments- Bibliography- Żabiński, Grzegorz (2007) 'Viking Age Swords from Scotland'. STUDIA I MATERIAŁY – STUDIES AND MATERIALS. Acta Militaria Mediaevalia III. Kraków – Sanok 2007, s. 29-84. (Available Online - www.academia.edu) no.1

Scotland, St Kilda, Harris, Western Isles

LOST

Current Location- Lost Type- Find Date- Total length- Blade- Hilt- Unknown (Żabiński 2007). Scabbard - Comments- Bibliography- Żabiński, Grzegorz (2007) 'Viking Age Swords from Scotland'. STUDIA I MATERIAŁY – STUDIES AND MATERIALS. Acta Militaria Mediaevalia III. Kraków – Sanok 2007, s. 29-84. (Available Online - www.academia.edu) no.13

Scotland, Bebencula, South Uist, Western Isles

LOST

Current Location- Lost Type- Find Date- Total length- Blade- Hilt- Unknown (Żabiński 2007). Scabbard - Comments- Bibliography- Żabiński, Grzegorz (2007) 'Viking Age Swords from Scotland'. STUDIA I MATERIAŁY – STUDIES AND MATERIALS. Acta Militaria Mediaevalia III. Kraków – Sanok 2007, s. 29-84. (Available Online - www.academia.edu) no.14

Scotland, Cornaigbeg, Tiree, Argyll

LOST

Current Location- Lost Type- Find Date- Total length- Blade- Hilt- Unknown (Żabiński 2007). Scabbard - Comments- Bibliography- Żabiński, Grzegorz (2007) 'Viking Age Swords from Scotland'. STUDIA I MATERIAŁY – STUDIES AND MATERIALS. Acta Militaria Mediaevalia III. Kraków – Sanok 2007, s. 29-84. (Available Online - www.academia.edu) no.19

Scotland, Traigh Nam Barck, Colonsay, Argyll

LOST

Current Location- Lost Type- Find Date- Total length- Blade- Hilt- Unknown (Żabiński 2007). Scabbard - Comments- Bibliography- Żabiński, Grzegorz (2007) 'Viking Age Swords from Scotland'. STUDIA I MATERIAŁY – STUDIES AND MATERIALS. Acta Militaria Mediaevalia III. Kraków – Sanok 2007, s. 29-84. (Available Online - www.academia.edu) no.22

Scotland, East Tarbet Bay, Gigha, Argyll

LOST

Current Location- Lost Type- Find Date- Total length- Blade- Hilt- Unknown (Żabiński 2007). Scabbard - Comments- Bibliography- Żabiński, Grzegorz (2007) 'Viking Age Swords from Scotland'. STUDIA I MATERIAŁY – STUDIES AND MATERIALS. Acta Militaria Mediaevalia III. Kraków – Sanok 2007, s. 29-84. (Available Online - www.academia.edu) no.26

Scotland, Drumachlay, Bute, Firth of Clyde

LOST

Current Location- Lost Type- Find Date- Total length- Blade- Hilt- Unknown (Żabiński 2007). Scabbard - Comments- Bibliography- Żabiński, Grzegorz (2007) 'Viking Age Swords from Scotland'. STUDIA I MATERIAŁY – STUDIES AND MATERIALS. Acta Militaria Mediaevalia III. Kraków – Sanok 2007, s. 29-84. (Available Online - www.academia.edu) no.27

England, London, River Thames, Vauxhall (-)

No Picture

Current Location- Unknown Type- Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- Wheeler only mentions ‘Information from Mr G. F. Lawrence’ Bibliography- Wheeler, R.E.M. (1927) London and the Vikings. London Museum Catalogues: No 1 p.53

Swords still awaiting classification

Swords so far unidentified by the authors

England, Cumbria, West Seaton

No Picture

Current Location- Lost Type- Possible grave find Find Date- 1902-03 Total Length: 80cm Blade- bent Hilt- 8cm Scabbard- description of the find suggests that it was found in its scabbard Comments- Bibliography- Edwards, B.J.N. (1998) Vikings in North West England. The Artifacts. p.21

England, Cumbria, Witherslack

No Picture

Current Location- Kendal Museum Type- Possible grave find Find Date- C19th Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- Bibliography- Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 p.74 Edwards, B.J.N. (1998) Vikings in North West England. The Artifacts. p.22

England, Lancashire, Eaglesfield

No Picture

Current Location- University of Newcastle, Museum of Antiquities Type- Possible grave find Find Date- 1814 Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard Comments- Cowen (1948) reports that that a fragmentary sword was found in 1852 with a skeleton in Eaglesfield outside Cockermouth, the original label accompanying the sword fragment, in the Black gate Museum in Newcastle, read ‘part of a sword found by a skeleton at Egglesfield near Cockermouth’. The mention of the skeleton suggests that the sword came from a grave site. Cowen (1948) cites Dickinson, writing in 1877, who mentions that at Brigham six skeletons and a sword were found. This could be evidence of a ‘Viking’ burial site and therefore possibly suggest Anglo Scandinavian settlement in the area Bibliography- Edwards, B.J.N. (1992) 'The Vikings in North West England. The Archaeological Evidence'. In Graham-Campbell, James (1992) Viking Treasure from the North West. The Cuerdale Hoard in its Context. p.28 Richards, Julian D. (2004) Vikings in England. p.191, 194 ahds.ac.uk

England, Yorkshire, Kildale

No Picture

Current Location- Type- grave find Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- The are 4 swords marked here on Richards map. Bibliography- Richards, Julian D. (2004) Vikings in England. p.191

England, Lancashire, Heysham

No Picture

Current Location- Type- grave find Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- Bibliography- Richards, Julian D. (2004) Vikings in England. p.191

Isle of Man, Patrick, Ballabrooie

No Picture

Current Location- Type- Possible grave find Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- Bibliography- Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.51, 55

Isle of Man, Tynwald Hill

No Picture

Current Location- Type- Find Date- 1937 Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- Bibliography- Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.51

Isle of Man, Ballachrink, Jurby

No Picture

Current Location- Type- Find Date- 1881 Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- part of blade and hilt Bibliography- Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 p.25 Wilson, David M. (2008) The Vikings in the Isle of Man. p.27

Isle of Man, Malew Parish Churchyard

No Picture

Current Location- Type- Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- 2 swords Bibliography- Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 p.25

England, Cambridgeshire, King's Dyke

No Picture

Current Location- Victoria County History, Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely, I, 326. Type- Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- found in River Nene on junction with King's Dyke. Bibliography- Wilson, David M. (1965) Some neglected late Anglo-Saxon swords. Medieval Archaeology: Vol.9 p.52 (no.9)

England, Cambridgeshire, River Cam, Clayhithe

No Picture

Current Location- Type- Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- Bibliography- Wilson, David M. (1965) Some neglected late Anglo-Saxon swords. Medieval Archaeology: Vol.9 p.52 (no.4)

England, Berkshire, Reading

No Picture

Current Location- Type- Find Date- Total Length- Blade- destroyed during excavation Hilt- Pommel and guard of gilt and silver Scabbard- Comments- Bibliography- Bjorn, Anathon, and Shetelig, Haakon (1940) Viking Antiquities in England. Edited by Haakon Shetelig. (Available Online) Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland: Part 4 p.11,12

England, Berkshire, Reading

No Picture

Current Location- Type- Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- near Shepperton Bibliography- Wilson, David M. (1965) Some neglected late Anglo-Saxon swords. Medieval Archaeology: Vol.9 p.52 (no.5)

Museum of London

England, London, Sherborne Lane Current Location- Museum of London: Type- Find Date- Total Length- n/a Blade- None Hilt- Only the Crossguard remains. Scabbard- n/a Comments- Bibliography- Wheeler, R.E.M. (1935) London and the Saxons. London Museum Catalogues: No 6 p.181 fig.43 Wilson, David M. (1964) Anglo-Saxon Ornamental Metalwork 700-1100. The British Museum. p.108 Davidson, Hilda, Ellis (1962) The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England. Pl.XI no.73 London Museum England, London Current Location- Museum of London: 93.79/1 Type- Find Date- Total Length- n/a Blade- None Hilt- Only the Crossguard remains. 90x22mm. Inlaid with silver and copper wire. Scabbard- n/a Comments- Bibliography- London Museum

England, London, Westminster Palace

Current Location- Type- Find Date- Total Length- Blade- Hilt- Scabbard- Comments- Bibliography- Davidson, Hilda, Ellis (1962) The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England. Pl.XI no.76

England, Devon, Exeter

Current Location- British Museum: 1875,0617.15 Type- Find Date- 1833 Total Length- N/A Blade- N/A Hilt- Only the pommel guard survives. Inscription: EOFRI ME F (BM Website 2015) Scabbard- N/A Comments- Bibliography- Davidson, Hilda, Ellis (1962) The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England. Pl.XIII no.84 Wilson, David M. (1964) Anglo-Saxon Ornamental Metalwork 700-1100. The British Museum. p.130-131 no.17 pl.xvii www.BritishMuseum.org