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This Roman brass key plate and the bronze and iron key were both found in adjacent rooms of Brading Roman Villa, Isle of Wight, during the 1891 excavations. Several other keys and pieces of lock mechanism were found nearby, suggesting that this area of the building (the north range of the villa complex) required a higher than normal level of security, presumably to protect valuables. Although heavily corroded, X-rays of the key show the teeth that engage with the lock mechanism are preserved beneath the corrosion. The lock plate is 22cm square, and key 15 cm long. These and many other artefacts are displayed in the Villa museum.