Seal matrix
Medieval, about late 13th-14th century AD
Found by a metal detectorist at Meonstoke, Hampshire in 2002
This pointed-oval copper-alloy seal leaves a clear impression in the red sealing wax. The central field shows a castle with a large door containing a raised portcullis. On the roof stands a right-facing bird swallowing what appears to be a crook. Either side of the bird is a key. The legend starts with a cross at the top of the point and reads "S'CASTELLANI.DE.BOVSENCOVRT". This translates as "the seal of the castellan of Bousencourt". The castellan was the keeper or governor of a medieval castle, and might be expected to hold the keys. The location of Bousencourt is uncertain. However, a web-search revealed that there is a modern place called Bouzencourt near to Amiens in the Picardy region of north-east France, with limited evidence for a medieval castle at nearby Le Hamel. Future research might tell us more.