Posts: 323 Location: Telemark, Norway
Sun 17 Jul, 2005 2:57 am
My apologies for re hashing an old topic, I have been away from the forum for a while, but I just thought that for the record I would add my two pence worth.... it might even be of interest to someone ! ? :lol:
The
great helm of Edward ,' The
Black Prince' ca 1370-1375, ( preserved in Canturbury Cathedral ), does still retain portions of its original oil dressed leather liner ( the leather is actually sheepskin, without the fleece, if memory serves correctly ). It is a segmented leather liner held and adjusted by a cord at the top and It is held in place by alternate rivets at the level of the occularia , where the top and bottom elements of the
helmet are joined together.
What I find somewhat curious about these helmets is that there is no provision for any chin strap or any other method of succuring the
helmet, apart from two holes at the bottom of the rear of the above mentioned
helmet that did at one point hold some form of strap fastening at the rear. The
helmet, no matter how snug fitting over the
bascinet, must have been prone to some violent movement when struck from the front ? There are also still five links of the original charnel preserved with the
helmet , but its method of fastening is uncertain.
Perhaps this of some interest to some one out there........ :)
Regards as ever,
Russ
PS. Though I have seen the above mentioned
helmet many times, I have never been fortunate enough ( yet !), to get my hands on the original ( though I have been allowed to examine various detached items of the Black Prince's achievements etc. kept in the Cathedral ), the above information was gleaned from Mr. Ted Smith and Mr. Arthur Davies formerly of the Royal Armouries staff, who were active in the construction of the replicas now hanging above the tomb, and who had of course handled the originals ! Lucky people......... :lol: