TWI helps investigate historical horseshoe mystery

Introduction

TWI has helped investigate a mystery related to a horseshoe found in the grounds of St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge.

The corroded horseshoe was found in 2017 while building work was being conducted in the college’s Main Court, close to Hobson’s building.

Professor Andrew Davenport, upon spotting the horseshoe and knowing the building’s connection to famous Cambridge historical figure, Thomas Hobson, wondered whether there could also be a connection between the old horseshoe and Hobson himself.

Hobson’s history

Thomas Hobson (1544-1631) ran a lucrative livery stable behind the George Inn, just outside the gates of St. Catharine’s College. While his main duty was arranging for the delivery of mail between London and Cambridge along the Old North Road (now the A10), Hobson made extra income by renting his horses out to students and staff from the University of Cambridge.

However, it soon became evident to Hobson that most people only wanted to hire his fastest horses, which would lead to his best livestock being overworked while those of lesser quality would barely be used at all. This led to the creation of ‘Hobson’s Choice’ – a “this one or none” policy - whereby customers would have the choice of either taking the freshest horse, or none at all.

A philanthropic figure, Hobson also established Hobson’s conduit, a watercourse that brought fresh water into the city, which lessened the number of people dying of plague due to unsanitary conditions in the city. Built between 1610 and 1614, the conduit can still be seen today running along both sides of Trumpington Street towards St. Catharine’s College. Later, in 1628, Hobson helped pay for the construction of a workhouse, known as Hobson’s House. It would go on to become the infamous Spinning House, also known as the Cambridge House of Correction or Hobson’s Bridewell, where local women believed to have a ‘corrupting influence’ on the male student population were imprisoned up until an Act of Parliament prevented this in 1893. Hobson also purchased Anglesey Priory in 1625, converting it into the country house now known as Anglesey Abbey.

So, could the horseshoe, which was found so close to the site of Hobson’s livery stables have come from one of his horses?

TWI called to investigate

The design of horseshoes has undergone a number of changes over the centuries, making it possible to apply a date to them. The arrangement of the nail holes and the overall shape of iron horseshoes have changed over the years, offering clues to help work out when they may have been made.

However, the horseshoe found at St. Catharine’s College was so badly corroded that the shape and nail holes could not be discerned without the use of an x-ray. It was therefore somewhat fortuitous that Professor Davenport discussed the find with alumna Eleanor Clapp while at a College dinner. Eleanor, in turn, advised that Professor Davenport sought the help of TWI Ltd, where her twin sister, Dr Philippa Moore, works as a materials and integrity engineer.

TWI has experience of using x-ray technology in forensic engineering investigations to assess components damaged by fire or corroded by subsea conditions, and so the horseshoe found its way to TWI’s headquarters just outside Cambridge.

Testing and findings

Non-destructive testing technician, Connor Brookfield from TWI’s Test House carried out an x-ray of the fragile and corroded horseshoe. The results showed the shape of the horseshoe beneath the corroded outer layer, including an arrangement of at least six nail holes with two seeming to still contain square headed nails.

The horseshoe showed a number of signs that would help to date it. Flat and without visible Calkins at the ends (Calkins are bent over ends of a shoe, more common among modern horseshoes), the horseshoe had an asymmetrical shape and a rounded arch. There was also no sign of a toe clip (a feature not invented until the mid-nineteenth century), nor any fullered groove running around the outer edge (fullering is very unusual on horseshoes dating before the mid seventeenth century). The St. Catharine’s horseshoe also showed no signs of the early seventeenth century trend of spreading inwards at the heel to create a keyhole-style inner profile.

Although there was significant variation in horseshoe styles across the country, earlier examples tended to have fewer nail holes; with late medieval shoes often having between six and eight holes, which would match the one found at St. Catharine’s.

So, could we prove that the horseshoe came from Hobson’s famous stables?

The x-rays offered a number of clues that showed the horseshoe could have come from the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century, placing it squarely within Thomas Hobson’s lifetime.

While it is impossible to be absolutely certain, TWI helped conclude that there is definitely a good chance that the St. Catharine’s College horseshoe may have once been worn by one of Thomas Hobson’s horses.

The x-ray clearly shows nail holes and other details

Philippa Moore Metallurgical Integrity Engineer - Materials & Structural Integrity Group

Philippa has over 15 years’ experience in project management and research related to fracture toughness testing, welding engineering, steel metallurgy, failure investigation, engineering critical assessment, and structural integrity.

For nearly a decade, she has represented the UK on standards work related to fracture toughness testing for BSI and ISO, and was leading the development of Standard BS 8571 on SENT testing. She has published more than 45 papers in various international journals and conferences.

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