1. Exploring Medieval Seals: A case study in research and outreach Enhancing Impact, Inspiring Excellence Conference Birmingham, 4 September 2013 Dr Elizabeth New ean@aber.ac.uk /Dr Susan Davies sud@aber.ac.uk Prifysgol Aberystwyth University www.exploringmedievalseals.org

2. - 2009-12: Research project funded by the UK Arts & Humanities Research Council - To investigate seals and sealing practices across Wales and the Marches, c.1200-1550 - To explore seals as a new resource for answering a range of questions about medieval society, economy, administration, law and culture

3. Exploring Outreach through Medieval Seals www.exploringmedievalseals.org Follow-on project, funded by the AHRC 2013-14, for outreach and engagement across the UK

4. Who was involved? Professor Phillipp Schofield, Professor of Medieval History, specialist in economic and social history and Principal Investigator for SiMeW and ExOMS Dr Elizabeth New, medievalist, special interests in social and religious history and author of Seals and Sealing Practices, British Records Association Archives & the User 11: Senior Researcher / Project Manager, SiMeW & ExOMS Dr John McEwan, medievalist, specialising in the political & administrative history and prosopography of London, Researcher for both projects, directing digital outputs for ExOMS Dr Susan Johns, (Bangor University) medievalist, special interest in the seals of noble women: Co-Investigator, SiMeW

5. Also involved : Knowledge Transfer Advisory Board (SiMeW and ExOMS): Dr Susan Davies (Aberystwyth University): archive specialist Professor Paul Harvey (University of Durham): seals expert Professor Mark Ormrod (University of York): medievalist and experienced director of research initiatives initiatives What have these projects done? Focusing on a wide range of seals and their across society between 12thC and c.1550 (rather than concentrati ng on formal high status or other specific categories of seals…..)

6. What did we do? Investigated 26 collections from 9 different repositories Recorded c.3,200 impressions, all still attached to their parent document, from c.2,600 different seal matrices Included all seal impressions within the temporal / geographic parameters: no ‘cherry-picking’ as in many previous studies Data gathered from sealed instrument as a whole

7. How did we do it? - Custom-built database enabled large amounts of information about the sealed instruments to be gathered efficiently (Database programing: Dr John McEwan) - Built upon previous descriptive methods to establish a stable recording template and controlled vocabulary

8. Shropshire Archives, Lilleshall Deeds 428 Note: digital photography is a crucial research tool!

9. Also note: motif keyword tags are embedded in the photographic metadata to facilitate search and analysis

10. Who helped us? Good relationships with repositories (archivists, conservators) were essential A close working relationship with Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales was particularly important for SiMeW, and i ncluded a major public exhibition, April-September 2012

11. Why did we do this work? These projects have created opportunities to investigate many interdisciplinary questions about women and men across society, including: Who used seals in medieval Wales and the English border counties, and in what contexts? What range of images and words were employed on medieval seals in these areas? How can seals inform our understanding of identities in medieval Wales and the Marches?

12. What is the wider context? These projects have built on past experience, current enthusiasm, and future plans for recording and research in an international context – In 2012, a new online international network and forum for seal-studies was launched as: SIGILLVM www.sigillvm.net

13. A Codicil! Close collaboration and mutual understanding between researchers and archivists is vital for success Advance planning, sharing expertise and mutual recognition of professional values are essential Knowledge transfer to wide audiences should be a key element in planning and delivery – These projects have provided professional development for heritage practitioners and new information for interested researchers at all levels