{"product_id":"tower-of-london-interest-a-large-rare-19th-century-antique-brass-padlock-bearing-the-impressed-mark-tower-of-london-raven-pen-no-2","title":"Tower of London Interest - A Large, Rare, 19th Century Antique Brass Padlock, Bearing the Impressed Mark \"Tower of London\", \"Raven Pen No.2.\" \u0026 Crown Proof Mark","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA rare and evocative \u003cstrong\u003e19th‑century antique brass padlock\u003c\/strong\u003e, crisply stamped \u003cstrong\u003e“Tower of London”\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e“Raven Pen No.2”\u003c\/strong\u003e, offering a direct and atmospheric link to one of Britain’s most enduring legends: the \u003cstrong\u003eRavens of the Tower of London\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis substantial padlock, cast in heavy brass with a deep, time‑worn patina, would have secured one of the Tower’s raven enclosures—small gated pens used to house the birds when not roaming the grounds. The clearly impressed marks make this an unusually well‑preserved and highly desirable example of Tower‑related hardware.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe form is typical of mid‑to‑late 19th‑century institutional padlocks: thick‑walled brass body, reinforced shoulders, and a robust shackle designed for repeated daily use. Surviving examples with \u003cstrong\u003especific departmental or location stamps\u003c\/strong\u003e—especially those referencing the ravens—are exceptionally scarce.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso bearing the impressed marks:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVR – “Victoria Regina”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe letters \u003cstrong\u003eVR\u003c\/strong\u003e stand for \u003cstrong\u003eVictoria Regina\u003c\/strong\u003e, the royal cypher of \u003cstrong\u003eQueen Victoria\u003c\/strong\u003e (reigned 1837–1901). This mark was used on government‑issued hardware, locks, keys, military equipment, and institutional fittings throughout the Victorian period.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt confirms that the padlock was \u003cstrong\u003eofficial Crown property\u003c\/strong\u003e, not a later souvenir or reproduction.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrown Proof Mark\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe small \u003cstrong\u003eCrown stamp\u003c\/strong\u003e is a standard \u003cstrong\u003eBritish government proof mark\u003c\/strong\u003e, applied to items manufactured for state use. It appears on:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrison locks\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMilitary padlocks\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePost Office hardware\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdmiralty and War Office equipment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTower of London fittings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts presence indicates that the lock passed government inspection and was accepted into official service.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate Mark: 1888\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e1888\u003c\/strong\u003e stamp is consistent with late‑Victorian institutional hardware. This date sits perfectly within:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe formalisation of the \u003cstrong\u003eTower’s raven‑keeping tradition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA period of major refurbishment and reorganisation at the Tower\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe era when numbered \u003cstrong\u003eraven pens\u003c\/strong\u003e were introduced and maintained\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis makes the padlock a \u003cstrong\u003etextbook late‑Victorian Tower artefact\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy These Marks Matter\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTogether, the marks:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrown proof\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1888\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Tower of London – Raven Pen No.2”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eform a complete and coherent set of \u003cstrong\u003eofficial Victorian government identifiers\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey confirm that the padlock is:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthentic\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod‑correct\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIssued for use within the Tower of London\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDirectly connected to the raven pens\u003c\/strong\u003e, not a general‑purpose lock repurposed later\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis combination is exceptionally rare and highly desirable for collectors of Tower memorabilia, Victorian hardware, and British institutional artefacts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a superb piece of London history, blending folklore, monarchy, and the practical realities of life within the Tower’s walls.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground: The Ravens of the Tower of London\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe presence of ravens at the Tower is one of the most famous traditions in British folklore. According to long‑held legend, \u003cstrong\u003e“If the ravens leave the Tower, the Kingdom will fall.”\u003c\/strong\u003e Although the story’s roots are partly mythic, the tradition became formalised in the \u003cstrong\u003eVictorian period\u003c\/strong\u003e, when the Tower began keeping a permanent group of ravens.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKey points of the Raven tradition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe superstition may date back to the time of \u003cstrong\u003eCharles II\u003c\/strong\u003e, who insisted that the birds be protected.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy the 19th century, the Tower maintained \u003cstrong\u003edesignated raven pens\u003c\/strong\u003e, each numbered, to house the birds safely at night or during repairs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe ravens became an official part of the Tower’s identity, cared for by the \u003cstrong\u003eYeoman Warders\u003c\/strong\u003e (Beefeaters).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToday, at least \u003cstrong\u003esix ravens\u003c\/strong\u003e must be kept at all times—an official royal decree.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe birds are wing‑clipped to prevent them from straying too far, and each has a name, personality, and role.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObjects connected to the raven pens—locks, keys, signage, and feeding equipment—are extremely rare survivors and highly sought after by collectors of Tower memorabilia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis padlock, marked \u003cstrong\u003e“Raven Pen No.2”\u003c\/strong\u003e, sits squarely within that tradition, making it a museum‑worthy piece of Tower folklore.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/strong\u003eEngland. 19th Century. Formerly owned by the Crown. Ex-Private collection - Yorkshire. Bearing the maker's stamp, too - Wing \u0026amp; Webb Ltd, Wolverhampton.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial: \u003c\/strong\u003eBrass with its original iron key.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Please refer to the images. The lock hasn't been tested. Excellent antique condition overall with expected wear, patina, and handling marks. Stamping remains clear and legible—a strong, honest example.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/strong\u003e11.5 cm (4.5\")\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53063331021142,"sku":"HAF7309","price":645.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0782\/7462\/5878\/files\/Photoroom-20260406-120249314.jpg?v=1775647964","url":"https:\/\/holtantiquefurniture.com\/products\/tower-of-london-interest-a-large-rare-19th-century-antique-brass-padlock-bearing-the-impressed-mark-tower-of-london-raven-pen-no-2","provider":"Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}