213

Alf Erickson pictured this corkscrew in his 1997 Best

Six. The handle is identical to the corkscrew in the

Watney / Babbidge book. Alf wrote:

‖

This is an English 19th century polished steel two-

pillar corkscrew with a turned oak handle bearing a

rolled gold shield-shaped plaque inscribed with,

'This handle is part of an Oak Pile that was for 656

years under the

London Bridge'.

The two pillars

are inscribed,

'The Iron Shoe

of an Oak Pile

that was 656

years in the

foundation of

Old London

Bridge'.

‖

The inscription on one side of this

corkscrew is,

―

Made from the Iron

Shoe of the Oak Pile that was 656 Yrs

in the Foundation of London Bridge.

‖

The inscription on the reverse is,

―

Put

down in 1176. J Ovenston, 72 Gt

Titchfield St. London Fecit, Taken up

in 1832.

‖

Fecit

is from the Latin

meaning

―

done by

‖

or

―

made by

‖

.

Fecit

or simply the letter

F

is

frequently found on coins after the name of an individual who is the engraver of the

coin. It is also used in conjunction with other engravings.