Swords of Type V found in Britain
Introduction
The following list of swords is not comprehensive and only represents those currently known to the author. They have been categorised using the Wheeler / Oakeshott typology. Low quality images have been included to assist with identification and it is not the authors intention to infringe any copyrights by doing so.
The swords in this catalogue only include sword found in England, Scotland, Wales and surrounding isles. It does not include swords from Ireland. The swords listed here were not all made in Britain, many of them being made in Scandinavia or main land Europe. In the same way it is not a list of swords possibly made in England as many examples of these have been found all over Europe.
A number of pommels have been discovered on the Portable Antiques Scheme website. Not all of them as yet have been incorporated into this list. It is recommended that you check the PAS database for additional finds.
Sword articles by Wheeler / Oakeshott Type
Swords found in Britain
Swords of Type I found in Britain Petersen Types: F, G, M, P, Q, Æ. 850AD? to 1025AD
Swords of Type II found in Britain Petersen Types: A, B, C, H, I. Norwegian, 750AD to 960AD
Swords of Type III found in Britain Petersen Types: D, E, R, S, T, U, V. Danish, 800AD to 950AD
Swords of Type IV found in Britain Petersen Types: K, O. Frankish, 790AD to 950AD
Swords of Type V found in Britain Petersen Types: L. English, 850AD to 975AD
Swords of Type VI found in Britain Petersen Types: Lv. Danish, 900AD to 1050AD
Swords of Type VII found in Britain Petersen Types: N, W, X. 830AD to 1100AD
Swords of Type VIII and IX found in Britain 900AD to 1300AD
Swords of Types Disc found in Britain 1050AD to 1300AD
Swords of Types Unknown found in Britain
Full Index of Swords from Britain
Click on the arrows in the header row to sort. To sort by multiple columns hold down the shift key while ordering the columns.
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Wheeler V, Petersen L
'Like Rygh 505. English, AD 850 to AD 975. |
Scotland, Argyll and Bute, Colonsay: Machrins
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Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway: Ecclefechan, Torbeckhill
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Scotland, Clackmannanshire: Harvieston
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Isle of Man, Ballaugh: Ballaugh
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Isle of Man, Maughold: St. Maughold
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Isle of Man, Ramsey: Claghbane
{{Cat|
- Current Location-
- Find Type-
- Find Date- 1980s?
- Total Length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
- Steinforth, Dirk (2015) Die skandinavische Besiedlung auf der Isle of Man [[1]]
Isle of Man, Jurby: Ballachrink
- Current Location-
- Current Location-
- Find Type-
- Find Date- 1881
- Total Length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments- part of blade and hilt
- Bibliography-
Isle of Man, Patrick: Ballabrooie
- Current Location-
- Current Location-
- Find Type- Possible grave find
- Find Date- 1964
- Total Length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Type L
- Scabbard- yes
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
Wales, Flintshire: Hawarden
- Current Location- National Museum of Wales
- Type- Construction Work
- Find date- 2014
- Total length-
- Blade- half missing. 40cm remaining
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard- None
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
Wales, Powys: Builth Wells
- Current Location- British Museum 1969,0703.1
- Type- ? C9th
- Find date- Before 1969
- Total length- 31cm
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L. 2 nielloed silver bands. Dotted animals & foliage on pommel.
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Cumbria: Ferguson Sword
- Current Location- Tullie House Museum
- Type- Unprovenanced
- Find date- ?
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
- Wilson, David M. (1965) Some neglected late Anglo-Saxon swords. Medieval Archaeology: Vol.9 p.45, fig.14, Cat. no.12
England, Cumbria: Witherslack
- Current Location-
- Current Location- Kendal Museum: KMA1979.269
- Find Type- Possible grave find
- Find Date- 1898, at the foot of Whitbarrow Scar (Kendal Museum 2015)
- Total Length-
- Blade- Pattern-welded (Kendal Museum 2015)
- Hilt- Probably Type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Cumbria: Cumwhitton, Grave 4
- Current Location-
- Type- Grave no.4 - Male
- Find date- 2011
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Cumbria: Cumwhitton, Grave 6
- Current Location-
- Type- Grave no.6 - Male
- Find date- 2011
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt-
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Lancashire: Inskip
- Current Location-
- Type-
- Find date- 1889
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L?
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Durham: Hurbuck
- Current Location- British Museum 1912,0723.1
- Type-River find
- Find date-
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Yorkshire: Gilling West
- Current Location- Yorkshire Museum 1979.81
- Type-River find. c.800-866
- Find date- 1976
- Total length- 838mm (Watkin 1986)
- Blade- 700mm long, 52mm wide at the guard. Pattern-welding down the fuller. (Watkin 1986)
- Hilt- Petersen type L. Lower guard 86mm wide (Watkin 1986)
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Yorkshire: Ingleton, Scales Moor
- Current Location- British Museum 1944,0301.1
- Type-
- Find date-
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, North Yorkshire: Wensley Churchyard
- Current Location- British Museum 1965,0703.1
- Type- Burial
- Find date-
- Total length- 81.5cm (tip of blade missing)
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
- Davidson, Hilda, Ellis (1962) The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England. p54 pl.XI no.71
England, Yorkshire: Acomb
- Current Location-
- Type-
- Find date-
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, North Yorkshire: Bedale, Camphill
Also known as Camphill Sword
- Current Location- British Museum 1875,0403.169
- Type- Grave find. late C9th
- Find date- Acquired 1875
- Total length- 56cm
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments- Found in Camphill Grave.
- Bibliography-
England, Yorkshire: Bedale Hoard
- Current Location- Yorkshire Museum YORYM 2014 149
- Type-Hoard
- Find date- 2012
- Total length- N/A
- Blade- None
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard- None
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
- [PAS]
England, Yorkshire: York, Coppergate (L)
- Current Location-
- Find date-
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Yorkshire: York, Fishergate (L1)
- Current Location-
- Type-
- Find date-
- Total length- n/a
- Blade- None
- Hilt- Petersen type L. Only the pommel survives.
- Scabbard- None
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Yorkshire: York, Fishergate (L2)
- Current Location-
- Type-
- Find date-
- Total length-
- Blade- None
- Hilt- Petersen type L. Only the Cross guard survives.
- Scabbard - None
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Yorkshire: Ainsbrook
- Current Location- British Museum: 2006,1203.17
- Type- Hoard.
- Find date- 2006
- Total length-
- Blade- None
- Hilt- Petersen type L.
- Scabbard - None
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Derbyshire: Ingleby mound 1
- Current Location-
- Type- Grave Find
- Find date- 1948
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L or O.
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Derbyshire: Ingleby mound 50
- Current Location-
- Type- Grave Find
- Find date- 1998-2000
- Total length- n/a
- Blade- None
- Hilt-Only a fragment of a cross-guard survives decorated in Trewhiddle style.
- Scabbard- none
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Derbyshire: Repton (L)
- Current Location-
- Type- found in the midst of a large collection of human bones
- Find date- 1839
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments- Was not recognised as Viking until the 1980’s.
- Bibliography-
England, Lincolnshire: River Witham, Fiskerton
- Current Location- Sheffield City Museum J. 1954.3
- Type- River find
- Find date- 1954
- Total length- 902mm (White 1979)
- Blade- undecorated
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard- traces of a wooden scabbard.
- Bibliography-
- Davidson, Hilda, Ellis (1962) The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England. p.54 & pl.X no.66
England, Lincolnshire: Torksey (PAS)
- Current Location- Returned to Finder
- PAS Ref.- Portable Antiquities Scheme LIN-D69EBE
- Find date-
- Find- pommel
- Bibliography-
- [PAS]
England, Herefordshire: Mortimer's Cross
England, Herefordshire, Mortimer's Cross - Current Location- Shrewsbury Museum: SHCMS:H.06528
- Type-
- Find date-
- Total length-
- Blade- pattern-welded
- Hilt- Probably Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Norfolk: Thetford
- Current Location- Norwich Castle Museum: 1953.158
- Type- Grave Find
- Find date-
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Norfolk: (L)
- Current Location- Norwich Castle Museum
- Type-
- Find date-
- Total length-
- Blade- Killed - hole drilled through the blade and bent
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments- Seen in Norwich Castle Museum. We have no other information regarding it. It could be England, Norfolk: River Little Ouse, Hockwold cum Wilton.
- Bibliography-
England, Norfolk: Gooderstone
- Current Location- Norwich Castle Museum: 1958.11:A
- Type- Discredited Grave Find. Probably just a stray find. [Graham-Campbell 2001]
- Find date-
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Norfolk: Norwich
- Current Location- Norwich Castle Museum
- Type-
- Find date-
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L, bronze 5 lobes
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Norfolk: Santon Downham
- Current Location- British Museum 1883,0726.1
- Type- Grave find. Late C9th
- Find date- 1883
- Total length- 79.5cm
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L.
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Norfolk: River Wensum, Norwich
- Current Location- British Museum: 1854,1107.12
- Type- C9th- early C10th
- Find date- presented to the BM in 1854.
- Total length- 76.7cm
- Blade- 59cm. Inlaid pattern-welding.
- Hilt- Petersen type L. 17.7cm long. Traces of silver and inlaid with copper-alloy wire.
- Scabbard-
- Comments- Hilt and blade are separated.
- Bibliography-
England, Suffolk: Kersey
- Current Location- Ipswich Museum: inv. no. 980-85
- Type-
- Find date- ? at Boxford Road Farm.
- Total length- 87.8cm
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard- Traces of the scabbard are still on the blade (Ipswich Museum Label, 2015)
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Suffolk: River Orwell
- Current Location- Ipswich Museum
- Type-River Find?
- Find date-1959?
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
- Personal observation at Ipswich Museum, October 2015.
- Possibly this sword - [Suffolk Heritage Explorer]
England, Cambridgeshire: Hauxton Mill
No Picture
- Current Location- ?Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 80.1121?
- Type-
- Find date-
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments- could be the sword listed in Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology annual report 1980-1981?
- Bibliography-
England, Oxfordshire: Abingdon
- Current Location- Ashmolean Museum, 1890.14 (Pitt-Rivers Museum, Oxford: inv. no. P.R. 1555-2580)
- Type-
- Find date- 1874
- Total length- 31.5cm (incomplete)
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments- found at Bog's Mill, Abingdon.
- Bibliography-
England, Berkshire: Drayton
- Current Location- Ashmolean Museum: 1966.1158
- Type- by ploughing
- Find Date- 1966
- Total Length- 59.5cm (incomplete)
- Blade- pattern-welded blade
- Hilt- Pommel missing. Crossguard similar to the Windsor sword
- Scabbard- None
- Bibliography-
England, Berkshire: River Thames, Windsor (L1)
- Current Location- British Museum: 1929,0206.1
- Type- River find
- Find Date- 1929
- Total Length- 77.2cm
- Blade- pattern-welded blade
- Hilt- Unknown classification. long down-curved guard, stub of tang with copper alloy ribbed loop around it, pommel missing
- Scabbard-
- Bibliography-
England, Berkshire: River Thames, Windsor (L2)
No Picture
- Current Location- British Museum: 1911,0617.1
- Type- River find. C9th-C10th
- Find date- Before 1911
- Total length- 33.6"
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
England, Surrey: Shepperton, Shepperton Ranges
- Current Location- British Museum 1996,0604.1
- Type- Found underwater in a gravel pit.
- Find Date- 1987
- Total Length- 82.5cm
- Blade- Pattern-welded. Bent, possibly "killed".
- Hilt- Petersen Type L. Copper-alloy upper and lower guards.
- Scabbard- Remains of a wooded scabbard on the lower blade.
- Comments- Similar to the Gilling and Hurbuck swords.
- Bibliography-
England, London: River Thames (L)
No Picture
- Current Location- British Museum: 1856,0701.1405
- Type- C9th-C10th
- Find date- Before 1856
- Total length- 74.3cm (BM Website 2015)
- Blade-
- Hilt- Petersen type L
- Scabbard-
- Comments- I have guessed that the sword referenced in Wheeler is probably BM 1856,0701.1405.
- Bibliography-
Pre Viking Age English Styles
England, Berkshire: Windsor (Pommel)
- Current Location- Ashmolean Museum: 1909.518
- Type- Mid C8th - Early C9th
- Find date- Before 1909
- Total length-
- Blade-
- Hilt- Pommel only
- Scabbard-
- Comments-
- Bibliography-
- Sword
- 3 Stars
- Macleod 1898
- Grieg 1940
- Żabiński 2007
- Wheeler 1927
- Graham-Campbell & Batey 1998
- Anderson 1874
- Bjorn & Shetelig 1940
- Redmond 2007
- Wilson 2008
- Cowen 1934
- Davidson 1962
- Wilson 1965
- Paterson 2014
- Edwards 1998
- Richards 1995
- Peirce 2002
- Roesdahl 1981
- Thompson 2004
- Watkin 1986
- Wilson 1964
- Richards 2004
- Youngs 1984
- Rogers 1993
- Lukis 1870
- Ottaway 1992
- Curle, Olsen & Shetelig 1954
- Bigsby 1854
- Biddle & Kjolbye-Biddle 1992
- White 1979
- Rogerson & Dallas 1984
- Graham-Campbell 2001
- Evison 1969
- British Museum
- Margeson 1997
- Heath 1985
- Hinton 1974