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‘Excalibur’ Sword Surfaces After Drought Drains Historic Castle Lake
Researchers say the ornate blade may be a Victorian ceremonial sword as experts and archives are consulted to identify its owner.
- Volunteers Gordon Proctor and Paul Fletcher recovered a 200-year-old sword from Chiddingstone Castle's lake in Edenbridge, Kent, last Thursday while clearing fallen branches. They handed the muddy blade to curator Naomi Collick.
- Britain's scorching summer caused water levels at the castle lake to plummet, exposing the metal blade. Curator Collick believes the receding water could reveal even more historical artifacts from the grounds.
- The sword features a gilded hilt with a lion and remains in remarkably good condition. Research suggests it may be a Victorian bandsman's blade from the early 1800s or a piece from former owner Denys Eyre Bower's collection.
- Dubbed "Kent's Excalibur," the find has been reported to the local finds liaison officer. Collick's team is consulting museums and experts while trawling castle archives to determine the sword's ownership.
- Experts are carefully handling the fragile weapon, which is wrapped in acid-free tissue for preservation. Local legends of a soldier who fell into the lake persist, though research continues to determine the blade's true origin.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources37
Leaning Left6Leaning Right12Center18Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 17%
C 50%
R 33%
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