By Islam El-Sakka
Experts have unlocked a 400-year-old combination padlock recovered from the wreck of the Ann Francis, a vessel that sank off the Welsh coast in 1583. Researchers from Amgueddfa Cymru and Cardiff University used CT scanning technology to reveal the lock's internal mechanism and identify the correct letter combination – ANCE – without damaging the artefact.
Shipwreck discovered by metal detectorist
The Ann Francis was caught in a ferocious storm on 28 December 1583 while returning from Spain with a cargo of grain. The ship wrecked on Margam beach, and its treasures were uncovered over a 21-year period by metal detectorist Peter Hughes. Among the finds was a brass combination lock believed to have secured a small chest containing valuables, found near Spanish silver coins and coin weights.
Technology reveals historic combination
Dr David Williams, a research associate at Cardiff University's School of Engineering, created a detailed 3D image of the lock's interior using CT scans typically reserved for biological structures. The scans showed how the notches aligned with letters, allowing the team to open the lock for the first time in centuries. Hughes said the dials turned with ease after more than 400 years beneath the sand.
The lock and other artefacts from the Ann Francis hoard are on display at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea until September 2027.
