Issue 39 Sept 23 - Journal - Page 80
and a figure of a praying cleric, probably Mottisfont’s Prior
or another member of the community.
Although once quite wealthy, the priory’s finances had
been badly affected when the Black Death plague swept
through Europe in the 1340s. The Pope granted permission for the priory to sell pardons in return for money to
support its work - the medieval equivalent of today’s
fundraiser.
It is believed that the Mottisfont seal matrix is the only
one of its kind in the UK to be reunited with its original
home, five hundred years after it left, and the first
Mottisfont seal matrix to be discovered.¹ It is likely to have
been taken to the medieval market at Lockerley by a
canon, hoping to sell indulgences.
they believed they would need to spend time in purgatory
to be purified. By being able to sell indulgences, Mottisfont
Priory could offer people a reduction in their time in
purgatory – in effect, fast-tracking them to heaven. This
of course came with a price, which was then used to
support the priory’s finances.”
The seal matrix will go on display at Mottisfont from
Saturday 29 July. For opening times visit
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont
Below, Sale of indulgences, 1517 - credit SZ
Photo Bridgeman Images
Seal matrices like this are rare, and not often on public
display. The Mottisfont matrix will go on show from
Saturday 29 July during the final weekend of the annual
Festival of Archaeology.
James Brown, archaeologist for the National Trust in the
South East said: “It’s so wonderful to see this special find
returned home. Archaeology can be rather like trying to
complete a jigsaw puzzle without the box showing the
final image and with most of the pieces missing. This is a
story where a missing piece of the puzzle has been found,
allowing us to see more of the picture, aiding our understanding of the early history of Mottisfont and importantly
sharing that with our visitors.
Below, Mottisfont medieval seal and seal matrix,
National Trust Images
“We are very thankful to the finder who did the right
thing by reporting it to their local Finds Liaison Officer at
the local council. This meant the find could be added to
a national database and flagged to the National Trust,
meaning we were able to start conversations about
bringing this item back to its home.”
Although of obvious financial value to their religious
institutions, matrices like this would not have been
considered precious; they had no adornments, were
fashioned from soft, less hardy metals and were not
intended to stand the test of time. This makes it unusual
to find survivors today. The practice of selling pardons
later became embroiled in accusations of corruption - a
factor in the Protestant Reformation and the eventual
closure of the priory at Mottisfont.
Below, Mottisfont - National Trust Images, Robert Morris
George Roberts, curator at the National Trust
commented: “Although the seal matrix dates from late in
the priory’s history it reflects the role the site would have
played in medieval people’s lives since its foundation in
the early 1200s. Pilgrims travelling between the great
cathedrals at Salisbury and Winchester are likely to have
passed Mottisfont and may well have stayed and
worshipped with the community there.
“All this was done to help secure a place in heaven after
their death. However, before they could reach heaven,
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