Questions about the authenticity of the items were raised, but the general consensus was that they were real.
In fact, they were illiterates.
As expected, their products were also inept and crude.
Whats embarrassing was how readily some of the most authoritative medievalists of Victorian London fell for the slipshod workmanship.
It eventually dawned on them that they could earn more by fabricating antiques themselves.
Inscriptions were just meaningless scribbles since neither Billy nor Charley could spell.
To give the appearance of age, the objects were treated with acid and then coated with river mud.
All these glaring mistakes passed through the scrutiny of historians without anyone raising an eyebrow.
So the ineptness of Billy and Charley ended up acting in their favor instead of against.
Roach Smith also found a convenient backstory for the objects.
In 4 or 5 years, Billy and Charley produced between 5,000 and 10,000 forgeries.
The lecture was reported inThe Gentleman’s MagazineandThe Athenaeum, and sale of them items quickly declined.
Although Eastwood lost the case, the defendant failed to prove the objects were forgeries.
However, not everyone was convinced.
But Reed could not find anyone at the dock who had uncovered such finds.
Reed then gained the confidence of a scavenger who confirmed that Billy and Charley had been selling forgeries.
Reed paid the scavenger and had him break into the workshop of the forgers and steal their moulds.
These were presented at a meeting of the Society of Antiquaries of London as evidence of the forgery.
Despite their exposure, Billy and Charleys crimes did not receive much publicity.
Billy and Charley continued to make and sell forgeries throughout the 1860s.
They even showed a remarkable improvement in their craftsmanship.
Billy and Charley were arrested but the court released them on grounds of insufficient evidence.
Charley Eaton died in January 1870 of tuberculosis.
William Smith was last seen in 1871 trying unsuccessfully to sell a lead copy of a 13th century jug.
He then disappeared and nothing further is known of him.
Billy and Charleys forgeries continue to circulate.
Several London museum have them in their collection.
You might also find someone selling them on eBay sometimes.
