Experts have successfully deciphered the four-letter code of an ancient padlock, a relic from a 1583 shipwreck found off the Welsh coast. The 400-year-old brass lock was discovered by metal detectorist Peter Hughes in the sand near Margam in Port Talbot in 1999. It is part of a treasure hoard from the Ann Francis ship, which sank during a storm on December 28, 1583, while returning from Spain. The ship's cargo had been concealed beneath the sand for centuries.
Museum experts utilized CT scanning technology to examine the lock's internal mechanism, identify the correct letter combination, and ultimately solve the mystery of its code, which spells out 'ANCE'. Hughes, from Maesteg, described the process as akin to cracking the 'Da Vinci code' and expressed his delight that the mystery was finally solved after years of his own attempts.
Dr. David Williams, a research associate at Cardiff University's School of Engineering, admitted to initial skepticism when asked to use scanning equipment for this specific purpose. "It's challenging, the device we have is not designed to this particular purpose," he stated, referring to the micro CT scanning technique. "We did a first scan to see if we could see anything and we were quite surprised that we could see letters," he added, noting that a third scan using a different approach led to cracking the code.
Hughes found the padlock alongside Spanish silver coins and coin weights, suggesting it may have protected these items or secured a chest containing other valuables. He donated the hoard to Amgueddfa Cymru in 2017, and the collection, including the lock, is now on display at Swansea Waterfront Museum.
Senior curator Alastair Willis of Amgueddfa Cymru highlighted the complexity of the lock, which has four rings, each with six letters, resulting in 1,296 possible combinations. "It's really complex because there are so many combinations," he said.
Another senior curator at Amgueddfa Cymru, Siân Iles, described the lock as being in "excellent condition" and a "wonderful example of one that still functions as it would have done hundreds of years ago." She noted that its close proximity to the shipwreck and the other artifacts allowed for precise dating. The lock likely secured a chest or small box, and its deciphered code would have been known only to its owner, adding a personal element to the historical find.