Skip to content

Please be aware that some material may contain words, descriptions or illustrations which will not reflect current scientific understanding and may be considered in today's context inaccurate, unethical, offensive or distressing.

The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter extract, regarding an ancient date found at Widgel Hall in Hertfordshire, England from John [Mordaunt] Cope to Alexander Stuart

Reference number: CLP/16/53/3

Date: 25 February 1734

Description

Cope describes 'an ancient chimney-peice [sic] [...] found on pulling down part of Widgel Hall in Hertfordshire; there is cut upon it a date expressed part in Roman numerals, part in Indian [Eastern Arabic] figures', noting that this is 'the earliest instance, I have mett with, of the Indian figures being used here in England, viz 1016'.

Subject: Antiquities / Language

Read to the Royal Society on 4 April 1734

Published in Philosophical Transactions as ''An extract of a letter from Mr. John Cope to Dr. Alexander Stuart, Physician in Ordinary to her Majesty, Fellow of the College of Physicians, and of the Royal Society, London, concerning an ancient date found at Widgel-Hall in Hertfordshire'

Reference number
CLP/16/53/3
Earliest possible date
25 February 1734
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
2 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

John Mordaunt Cope

View page for John Mordaunt Cope

Use this record

Citation

John Mordaunt Cope, Letter extract, regarding an ancient date found at Widgel Hall in Hertfordshire, England from John [Mordaunt] Cope to Alexander Stuart, 25 February 1734, CLP/16/53/3, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_16_53_3/letter-extract-regarding-an-ancient-date-found-at-widgel-hall-in-hertfordshire-england-from-john-mordaunt-cope-to-alexander-stuart, accessed on 15 March 2025

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_16_53_3/letter-extract-regarding-an-ancient-date-found-at-widgel-hall-in-hertfordshire-england-from-john-mordaunt-cope-to-alexander-stuart

Embed this record

<iframe src="https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/embed/items/clp_16_53_3/letter-extract-regarding-an-ancient-date-found-at-widgel-hall-in-hertfordshire-england-from-john-mordaunt-cope-to-alexander-stuart" title="Letter extract, regarding an ancient date found at Widgel Hall in Hertfordshire, England from John [Mordaunt] Cope to Alexander Stuart" allow="fullscreen" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500px"></iframe>

Related Publications

Related Records

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Related Fellows

Explore the collection

  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

    View collection