[MR] Long Bow Rest Discovery

[Marco]

Good Gentiles,

I travel abroad several times a year and always revisit several musuems as they tend to rotate displays.   Recently the Musuem of London remodeled thier Medieval section and updated many items.   As an SCA Long Bowman and Archery Marshal, I found many items of interest, from arrow heads to arm guards on display.   But the most interesting piece that I found was a small piece of wood described as a "Longbow mount".   As many know this has been long discussed within the SCA as to wether or not there were any sort of arrow rests on longbows.   Hopefully, this will answer any further arguements.   My picture of the mount did not turn out very well due to the glass case so once I returned I contacted the musuem about this piece and requested information about it as well as thier catalog pictures if available.   The following are the exerpts of my discussions with the museum.  


Dear Mr Connelly,

This longbow mount with ?griffin-head terminal was recovered from the Thames foreshore at Vauxhall and was acquired by the museum in 1913.  The dimensions are: L 93 mm; W 18 mm; H 37 mm and the mount is made from wood. I am afraid there is nothing else on file about this piece, although I rather thought that it served the purpose of a mount rather than an 'arrow rest'.  Perhaps Robert Hardy's book on the History of the Long Bow will offer further clues.

For furture reference the accession number is: A3887 and if you would like a photograph you will need to contact our Picture Library (please see website for details) or telephone 0207 814 5604    Please cite the accession number which will help the PL to locate the image quickly. 

Yours sincerely

H Forsyth
Senior Curator Post-Medieval Collections


It is thought to date to the 16th century - but this is supposition.  Organic materials actually survive best in wet or waterlogged anerobic deposits.  Specialists who have looked at this item in the past have suggested that it was fixed to the bow.

Hazel Forsyth
Senior Curator (Post-Medieval)
Museum of London
150 London Wall
London. EC2Y 5HN
Tel: 020 7814 5737
Fax: 0870 444 3853
Email: hforsyth at museumoflondon.org.uk
www.museumoflondon.org.uk