Glazed floor tile from excavations by Winchester Museums Service Archaeology Section at the site of Hyde Abbey, Winchester, Hampshire in 1995. Five shallow keys on the back.

Floor tile

Medieval, about 1396

Found by Winchester Museums Archaeology Section at the Hyde Abbey Community Excavation, Winchester, Hampshire in 1995

A nearly complete glazed inlaid floor tile with much of the glaze remaining. The detailed study of tiles excavated at Romsey Abbey has identified that this particular design of tile was produced at Otterbourne, south of Hampshire in about 1396 by William Tyelere. The griffin depicted on the tile is a mythical beast with the head, fore-part and wings of an eagle, and the body, hind-legs and tail of a lion. Griffins are quite commonly found in heraldry and in architecture.