The Conyers falchion was traditionally used as a ‘sword of tenure’ or tenancy for the lands the family held from the Bishops of Durham. The head of the Conyers family presented each new Prince Bishop with this sword as a symbol of his loyalty, and the Bishop’s worldly power.

In the folklore of Northumbria, the Sockburn Worm was a ferocious wyvern that laid waste to the village of Sockburn in Durham. It was said that the beast was finally slain by John Conyers. The tale is said to be the inspiration for Lewis Carroll 's poem Jabberwocky which he wrote while in Croft-on-Tees and Whitburn. [1]

There's a legend surrounding the Conyers falchion, where the sword is said to have been wielded by Sir John Conyers when he slew the Sockburn Worm in 1063. The Conyers family probably came from France to England around the time of the Norman Conquest (1066 and all that).

2011年4月1日 · On the journey to his castle at Bishop Auckland the Bishop crosses a bridge over the River Tees at Sockburn, and is presented with the Conyers Falchion. Until the mid-eighteenth century this was done by members of the Conyers family.

Type II Falchion from Durham (also known as the Conyers Falchion). The sword artifact was found in the Durham Cathedral (North East England), and is dated 1260-1270. Falchion weight: 2100-2200 g. Spring tempered steel. Hardening 50 HRC. Polished. 100% Battle ready. HMB approved. There are no weaknesses in the design.

Enjoy this short talk for #HeritageOpenDays given by Shaun McAlister, Exhibitions Assistant at Open Treasure, the museum of Durham Cathedral. Shaun explores the history and legends associated with...

2018年2月22日 · The falchion itself isn’t mentioned until 1396 when it is noted that Sir John Conyers “by the service of showing to the Lord Bishop a falchion” acknowledged that the Bishop was the temporal and spiritual ruler in the area. Stylistic evidence would suggest it was made between 1260 & 1270.

2012年4月2日 · the oldest is the conyers falchion style, a broad blade similar in profile to a machete (note however that they are only simlar in superficial shape - they have an extremely thin distal profile, often as little as 1.2mm thick at the broadest point of the blade).

2024年1月22日 · The senior Conyers offered the falchion to the Prince-Bishop as a sign that he recognized the Bishop as his overlord, and then the falchion was returned to him and he was quit of all services. It lapsed after 1771, and wasn't performed in over 200 years.

Shaun McAlister, a member of staff here, explores the history and legends associated with his favourite item in Durham Cathedral's collections, a sword which slayed a mythical beast and inspired one of the most famous poems in the English language. At the moment our Open Treasure museum, where this item is on display, is closed.