Exploring Medieval Seals:
A case study in research and outreach
Enhancing 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
Follow-on project, funded by the AHRC
2013-14, for outreach and engagement
across the UK
www.exploringmedievalseals.org
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
initiatives
What have
these
projects
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
• Note: digital photography is a crucial research tool!
Shropshire Archives, Lilleshall Deeds 428
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