Roof furniture fragment
Category
Archaeological material
Date
c. 1150 - c. 1650
Materials
Sandy earthenware fabric, possibly Lincoln, with green glaze
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Tattershall Castle, Lincolnshire
NT 579494
Summary
Fragment of roof furniture moulded in the shape of a gargoyle/dragon’s head. Possibly the end of a waterspout or drain. Made of sandy earthenware fabric, possibly Lincoln, with green lead glaze.
Full description
This worn fragment of medieval roof furniture is in the shape of a gargoyle or dragon’s head. The head is hollow and has an open mouth, giving the impression it may have once sat at the end of a drain or guttering for water to discharge through. This artefact was recovered during an excavation of the castle moat between 1912 and 1914 by William Weir at the bequest of Lord Curzon as part of the site’s restoration works. Around 1,300 objects were found during this excavation and largely date to the medieval and post-medieval periods when the castle was occupied. The collection comprises pottery, ceramic building material, plaster, worked stone, vessel and window glass, metal work and clay pipe.
