The Medieval Period (1100AD - 1499AD)
Life In The Middle Ages
Drawplate for wire working
- Period:
- Late Medieval
- Description:
The drawplate was used to make wire. The plate was securely fixed to a bench and wire attached to pincers was drawn through one of the holes by a windlass. The diameter of the hole controlled the thickness of the wire. The Whithorn drawplate is unique in medieval Britain.
A rectangular iron plate with slightly concave long sides. It is broken at one end. An X-radiograph of the plate revealed three lines of holes ranging from 3.5 to 1.2mm on the long axis of the plate. A cut short-cross silver halfpenny of Henry II or III is trapped on the surface of the plate by corrosion.
- Materials/Media:
- iron
- Dimensions:
- length 120mm, width 60mm
- Source:
- Stranraer Museum
- Accession number:
- WIWMS Whit 1N60
- Digital Number:
- SRCO002n
- Copyright:
- Dumfries & Galloway Council
