New evidence for medieval copper alloy casting in the City of London

Rachel Cubitt recently joined MOLA as a Trainee Registered Finds Specialist. In this blog she outlines the findings of one of her first assignments, researching a large group of ceramic mould fragments…

Medieval visitors to the area around Leadenhall Street in the City of London would have seen a hive of industrial activity.  A group of metalworkers were casting copper alloys, making large vessels such as bells and domestic cauldrons. Each one of these castings was made in a mould, formed by encasing a wooden pattern in clay. The pattern was carefully removed and the clay fired before the metal was poured in. Once the metal casting had solidified, the mould had to be broken open to remove the finished object. The smashed fragments of mould were of no further use and discarded as rubbish.