Find Spot record 231/0/1 - Possible Early Saxon Cremation

Anglo-Saxon Pottery vessel, described and drawn by Myres, found in Thenford.

{1} Finds made pre 1712. Some confusion with Mon 184. From the drawing the urn would appear to be pagan Saxon.

{2} Ashes within an urn were found whilst digging a grave in the churchyard.

{5} Wrong grid references quoted for the church.

{6} "In Seabridge Close, about 600 yards northwest from the church of Thenford and a little west of the old water mill, (four miles E. by N. from Banbury,) is a large funeral pile formed of earth and rubble stones ; where great quantities of human bones, and many earthern urns, or drinking cups, have been found. One of these in the possession of Geo. Baker Esq. is of black pottery, and three inches and a quarter in height. Mr. Baker mentions that some labourers, previously to his visit to the spot, discovered two skeletons at the lapper end of the stonepit, lying east and west, with a small drinking cup near them. On exploring some of the adjacent ground in a southerly direction, Mr. Baker found the remains of five skeletons disposed in three distinct tiers ; one in each of the two first tiers, and three about a yard distant from each other in the lower tier. The iron blade of a Roman knife, five inches in length, was found by the side of a skeleton exhumed by Miss Baker and Mr. Severne."

<1> BROMLEY V., Roman Banburyshire, (checked) (Article). SNN10472.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.143/Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<3> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p.529 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<4> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.717 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP54SW5 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<6> Beesley J., 1841, History of Banbury, p. 31 (Book). SNN280.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 6:58PM