What is it?

This piece of armour is called a gorget, and it was worn around the neck to protect soldiers during battle. It was found in the River Thames near Godstow, in north Oxford It’s a very rare find from the English Civil War, from around 1643! If you look closely, you can even see a dent where the gorget was tested by shooting it with a musket. During the English Civil War, Oxford was an important place for King Charles I, who made it his capital. The city saw many sieges between the Royalists (who supported the king) and the Parliamentarians (who wanted to limit his power). This gorget might have belonged to a soldier in one of those sieges. By 1646, the Parliamentarians finally won control of Oxford. This gorget is a reminder of the tough times this country faced in the 1600s and how important Oxford was during the war. Why do you think they tested the armour by shooting it with a musket? How do you think the gorget ended up in the river?

Where is it?

You can find it at Museum of Oxford

In Gallery 2, a part of the Civil War display.

When can I see it?

You can see this item up until 21/12/2025

Can I collect it?

This item can't be collected at the moment but check back in the future!