Prick Spur from Middleton Stoney, Oxfordshire: 12th century

In the 12th century this Oxfordshire village was one of more than a dozen places in the vicinity of Oxford to be the site of a Norman castle. Oxford Castle still stands; Middleton Stoney castle was ordered to be pulled down by King John in 1216, but we know from excavation that it consisted of a bailey area and stone tower.

The Saxons rode horses and decorated the harness and caparison with metal mounts for the stirrup and terminals. Spurs, for "spurring on" the horse by digging something sharp into its sides, made their appearance with the Normans. The earliest post-Conquest type of spur is the "prick" spur, a simple design in iron with a single immovable projecting point. Leather straps attached to the two ends secured the spur to the foot over the boot.

© 1998 Oxfordshire Museum Service, Setúbal Museums and the Benaki Museum