Lock Shut for Over 400 Years Opened After CT Scan Reveals Its Code

A lock opens after more than 400 years

A brass padlock from the Elizabethan era (1500s to early 1600s) has been opened for the first time. It came from the English ship Anne Francis, which sank in a storm off the Welsh coast in 1583. Researchers used a micro CT scan to look inside the lock. They found the four-letter password, 'ANCE'.

Key facts

• The ship sank in December 1583, after a strong storm near Marloes Sands.
• The lock was found by Peter Hughes, who used a metal detector from 1996 to 2017.
• The micro CT scan took thousands of X-ray images and combined them into a 3D picture.
• The lock's dial turned smoothly, even after more than 400 years under sand.
• Records list 14 crew members who died in the month of the wreck.

What is the Anne Francis?

The Anne Francis was owned by Francis Shakerley, a merchant and a notorious smuggler. The ship was returning from Spain to England when it was caught in the storm. After the wreck, local people quickly took goods from the ship. A Welsh lord who claimed ownership made a list of seized items. The list included three broken boxes, each with a damaged lock.

Why this matters

The lock helps historians learn about the ship and the people who sailed on it. Researchers did not want to try 1,000+ code combinations by hand. That could have damaged the lock. Using a scan let them solve the puzzle without harm. Curators say the lock is special because it is well preserved and linked to a shipwreck with a known date.

What to watch

• Museum experts want to learn what the owner meant by the word 'ANCE'.
• Researchers may study the lock further to learn more about its history.
• Scientists may use this method on other old objects where opening them by hand is risky.