Note 36 — Chapter IV · (continued 2)

J. Romilly Allen, Esq., C.E., F.S.A. Scot., who first recognised this object as part of an ancient padlock, is presently preparing a paper on barbed locks, with special reference to their presence in crannogs, which will be read at an early meeting of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Meantime he writes as follows:—"Padlocks with barbed bolts are almost the only kind used all over China and India at the present day, and it is only reasonable to suppose that they are of Eastern origin. They have been found in England in connection with Roman remains (see paper on Locks found at Great Chesterfield, Essex, by the Hon. R. Cornwallis Neville, Archæolog. Journal, vol. xiii. p. 7); and I think it probable they were introduced into this country by the Romans. Their use in this country continued to mediæval times, after which they disappeared before improved locks of more modern construction."