File:Medieval barb spring padlock (FindID 291544).jpg

English: Part of the case of a copper alloy and iron barb spring padlock; the end plate through which the bolt spring would fit. The end plate is sub square, with fleur de lis mouldings in the corners, and rounded projections in the centre of each side. It has a central hole; the bolt hole, which is in the form of a cross with one longer arm. The reverse of the plate is recessed, but mostly filled with iron corrosion. It has a length of 33.97mm, width 30.23mm, thickness 7.21mm, weight 14.54g.

The padlock would have been operated with a slide key shaped similarly to number 12648 on page 2878 of Finds from Medieval York. The padlock would have been a hollow cuboid. A bolt fitted with springing plates of metal would have been inserted through the end plate, and once through the cross shaped hole, the springs would have opened out, preventing it from being removed. The key would have had a hole of the same shape as the bolt in the bit. It would be inserted through a slot in the opposite end of the padlock, and slide along inside the padlock. The hole would fit over the bolt inside the padlock, and depress the springs, allowing the bolt to be removed.

Barrel padlocks of this type were used from the 12th to the 16th century (Geake 2001). The decoration on this example suggests a late medieval or early post medieval date of perhaps, 1400 – 1600 AD.