A lead stamp with an inscribed tree has been discovered by archaeologists excavating Grimsby's Freshney Place development site. Possibly dating back as far as the early 13th Century when King John granted the town a charter, it would have been used to stamp impressions into hot wax to authenticate documents. These functioned like a modern signature, allowing both those who could read and write and illiterate individuals across all social classes, from merchants to clergy and farmers, to legalise everything from letters to legal transactions. Other finds have included numerous remnants of leather, suggesting that there might once have been a shoe-making factory on the site. Enthuses North East Lincolnshire Council's cabinet member for heritage, Cllr Tanya Brasted:"These are exciting finds for our town centre, and, in time, I hope they can be put on display for everyone to see."
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