Casgliadau Arlein

Part of a hinged bronze hasp. The hinged end of the hasp was attached to the lid of a box, either on the front, if the hasp was straight as the Usk example, or on the top, if the hasp described a right angle bend at the top, as an example from Richborough. The hasp extended over the junction of the lid and the box proper and towards its lower end a bronze loop projected backwards into a slot in the box. On the inside of the box this loop engaged the bolt which was operated by means of a key inserted into the front of the box adjacent to the lower end of the hasp. The lower end of the Usk hasp is missing as are those of the closely similar Fishbourne and Richborough examples. The break is close to where the hasp tapers to form its narrow tail, this would be a weak point and presumably the first place to break if the fastening was forced open.