Most of a folding balance of medieval date recovered from the 1999 season of the Hyde Abbey Community Archaeology project. Consists of two arms and the crosspiece, with part of the suspension loop surviving on one of the arms.

Most of a folding balance of medieval date recovered from the 1999 season of the Hyde Abbey Community Archaeology project. Consists of two arms and the crosspiece, with part of the suspension loop surviving on one of the arms.

Part of a set of copper-alloy scales

Medieval

Found in 1999 by Winchester Museums Archaeology Section at the Hyde Abbey Community excavation, Winchester, Hampshire

These scales were designed to fold up, and were employed for weighing small but precious items such as coins. The broken loop would have served to suspend a small pan, such as the one from Victoria Road shown on this website. As the object was retrieved from the clay foundation of Hyde Abbey church, it must have been in use before the abbey was built, rather than belonging to any of the clergy or lay brothers that eventually lived there.

Most of a folding balance of medieval date recovered from the 1999 season of the Hyde Abbey Community Archaeology project. Consists of two arms and the crosspiece, with part of the suspension loop surviving on one of the arms.