Archaeologists have discovered pieces of what is believed to be a monastic copper scourge in the grounds of Rufford Abbey — one of only four in the country.

Scourges, whips or cat-o-nine-tails were woven copper-alloy wires braided together and used by people in the Middle Ages to chastise themselves.

It is thought they perhaps saw it as a way of cleansing the soul or self-punishment for society’s sins, and were popular after the devastation of the Black Death.

The Black Death plague ravaged the country from 1348 and put an end to prosperity at Rufford, when the abbey went into decline.

It is possible that Cistercian monks used the scourges at this time in an attempt to keep the Black Death at bay, or for the mortification of the human body.

The monastic scourge find was made by community archaeologists during a dig underneath the meadow at Rufford Abbey during 2014, with a stain of green colouring in the soil surrounding the copper metal.

The significance of the find has only just been made following tests. A similar metal scourge found at Rievaulx Abbey, another former Cistercian abbey, in Yorkshire, is on display there.

Nottinghamshire County Council now manages Rufford Abbey Country Park. Community archaeologists Emily Gillott (pictured) and Lorraine Horsley made the potential connection due to the similarities with the scourge on display at Rievaulx, and have just had confirmation of the Rufford find’s significance from archaeological experts.

Medieval specialist Glyn Coppack said: “There must be a number of unidentified scourges from monastic excavations, but apart from the one from La Grava I have not seen any others myself. I suspect they are very rare indeed and this is an exceptional find.”

In the images, Emily Gillott has mocked up a metal copy of what the medieval one (green, boxed) would have looked like as a full whip.