The site of the lost Tudor palace of Elsyng is beginning to give up some of its secrets.

Last week, members of Enfield Archaeological Society unearthed several exciting finds at the site of Henry VIII's palace, which is hidden in the grounds of Enfield's Forty Hall.

A terracotta fragment, featuring the wing of a mythical creature, possibly from a coat of arms, was found along with a 17th century gaming counter bearing the head of Louis XIV, a Delft ware bowl and a salt-glazed wine bottle.

The items were found within a massive vaulted brick-built drain. It appears that workmen who demolished the palace in the 1650s modified the roof of the drain to backfill it with items from the palace.

Dr Martin Dearne, of Enfield Archaeological Society, said: "This dig was, as usual, extremely interesting and has kept us amazed due to its finds.

"What especially interests me is the terracotta fragment showing some kind of wing.

"Whose coat of arms does it belong to? If indeed it does belong to a coat of arms. Where would it have been displayed? Over the coming weeks, we will work on these questions."

Dozens of people watched the archaeologists at work on Sunday as Forty Hall was also playing host to the popular Enfield at War exhibition which has attracted hundreds of visitors.

The display, which drew to a close at the weekend, featured a full-size Anderson air-raid shelter, original clothes and uniforms, photographs and paperwork from the era.

Many school parties visited the exhibition, organised by Enfield Council, to find out what it was like to live through the war and what the war was like through the eyes of children at the time.