Exploring Medieval Seals: A case study in research and

outreachEnhancing Impact, Inspiring Excellence Conference

Birmingham, 4 September 2013

Dr Elizabeth New ean@aber.ac.uk /Dr Susan Davies sud@aber.ac.uk

Prifysgol Aberystwyth University

www.exploringmedievalseals.org

- 2009-12: Research project funded by the UK Arts & Humanities Research Council

- To investigate seals and sealing practices across Wales and the Marches, c.1200-1550

- To explore seals as a new resource for answering a range of questions about medieval society, economy, administration, law and culture

Exploring Outreach through Medieval

Seals

www.exploringmedievalseals.org

Follow-on project, funded by the AHRC 2013-14, for outreach and engagement across the UK

Who was involved?• Professor Phillipp Schofield, Professor of Medieval

History, specialist in economic and social history and Principal Investigator for SiMeW and ExOMS

• Dr Elizabeth New, medievalist, special interests in social and religious history and author of Seals and Sealing Practices, British Records Association Archives & the User 11: Senior Researcher / Project Manager , SiMeW & ExOMS

• Dr John McEwan, medievalist, specialising in the political & administrative history and prosopography of London, Researcher for both projects, directing digital outputs for ExOMS

• Dr Susan Johns, (Bangor University) medievalist, special interest in the seals of noble women: Co-Investigator, SiMeW

Also involved:

Knowledge Transfer Advisory Board (SiMeW and ExOMS):

•Dr Susan Davies (Aberystwyth University): archive specialist

•Professor Paul Harvey (University of Durham): seals expert

•Professor Mark Ormrod (University of York): medievalist and experienced director of research initiatives

initiativesWhat have these projects done? Focusing on a wide range of seals and their across society between 12thC and c.1550 (rather than concentrating on formal high status or other specific categories of seals…..)

What did we do?• Investigated 26 collections from 9 different

repositories• Recorded c.3,200 impressions, all still

attached to their parent document, from c.2,600 different seal matrices

• Included all seal impressions within the temporal / geographic parameters: no ‘cherry-picking’ as in many previous studies

• Data gathered from sealed instrument as a whole

How did we do it?- Custom-built database enabled large amounts of information about the sealed instruments to be gathered efficiently (Database programing: Dr John McEwan)- Built upon previous descriptive methods to establish a stable recording template and controlled vocabulary

Shropshire Archives, Lilleshall Deeds 428

• Note: digital photography is a crucial research tool!

Also note: motif keyword tags are embedded in the photographic

metadata to facilitate search and analysis

Who helped us?• Good relationships with repositories (archivists,

conservators) were essential • A close working relationship with Llyfrgell

Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales was particularly important for SiMeW, and included a major public exhibition, April-September 2012

Why did we do this work?• These projects have created opportunities to

investigate many interdisciplinary questions about women and men across society, including:

•Who used seals in medieval Wales and the English border counties, and in what contexts?

•What range of images and words were employed on medieval seals in these areas?

•How can seals inform our understanding of identities in medieval Wales and the Marches?

What is the wider context?

• These projects have built on past experience, current enthusiasm, and future plans for recording and research in an international context

– In 2012, a new online international network and forum for seal-studies was launched as: SIGILLVM www.sigillvm.net

A Codicil!• Close collaboration and mutual understanding

between researchers and archivists is vital for success

• Advance planning, sharing expertise and mutual recognition of professional values are essential

• Knowledge transfer to wide audiences should be a key element in planning and delivery

– These projects have provided professional development for heritage practitioners and new information for interested researchers at all levels