Cloth Seal, Dye Seal, Dyer's Two-Part Seal, IW, Image by Karen Ellis-Andrews, Found by Roy Ellis.
Found on Thames Foreshore*, 27mm.
*by a loading platform on the south bank, just west of Southwark Bridge. The platform has almost eroded away leaving only the vertical studs remaining.
Line & numeral(s) scratched // I W, ...LY.DYER around
Seal of a dyer but not enough of the inscription is legible to determine the name.
From Paul Cannon, "Although there is only a small amount of inscription surviving I would suggest that a possible candidate for this seal is John Wheatly. The surname must begin ‘W’ and end ‘ly’ and the first name has to begin ‘J(I)’. For the will of John Wheatly dyer of St Saviour Southwark, Surrey, proved 14 July 1730 but written in 1729 see National Archives PROB 11/639/60. His will contains the following clause “And further more it is my earnest will and desire that my said son Francis be bred a dyer and that when his time of servitude shall be expired his brother John will take him into partnership in the trade” National Archives, Will of John Wheatly, Dyer of Saint Saviour Southwark, Surrey.
This shows that there were two dyers named John Wheatly who were father and son and that Francis Wheatly was also a member of the same family. Examples of Francis’ seals are also recorded on Bagseals (BSG.CS.01972 & BSG.CS.01985) It is interesting that the same finder has found all the Francis Wheatly seals as well as this new seal."
