Cloth Seal, Norwich Weavers Company Seal, 1656, Image & Found by Derfel.
Found on Thames foreshore, 20mm.
NOR / WICH / 1656 // (B)D / SRRE / 1656 / GS(BS) / C
A Norwich Weavers Company cloth seal with the letters in a well known style:- NOR / WICH on one side and the other side shows the surname initial of the 12 wardens of Norwich for that particular year. Unfortunately 1656 is one year before records in the Norwich Mayor's Court Book held at the Norfolk Records Office in Norwich begin. With the further seals BSG.CS.01994 & BSG.CS.00939 the initials with the date are a useful addition.
Wardens surname initials for 1656:-
BD
SRRE
date
GSBS
C
Unusual in having the last initial alone instead of paired as in most other seals of this type and there only being 11 wardens. The C is clearly seen without anything beside. This seal and BSG.CS.01994 indicate there may be something (an out of place initial - S?) to the left of the top BD but it may just be an aberrant mark.
See Nos.81-85 Figs.21-22, Egan, Lead Seals and Related Items in the British Museum.
Also see the 'Worsted Reformed' seals on this Gallery that were attached to the other end of these cloths.
