Iron Key
This heavily corroded iron key was found in the well we are excavating during the 2026 dig.
Keys are often found in religious establishments of this period. They indicate that the Abbey had things worth locking up. These might have been physical objects but also sacred spaces where access was restricted or, at least, controlled.
The key will be x-rayed and professionally cleaned by a conservator to reveal how it was manufactured and the type of lock mechanism it engaged with.