Saxon nails and iron rings, probably at the Country Club site (now called Bishops House), Great Chesterford (EHER 83314)

The Hon. R.C. Neville (also known as Lord Braybrooke) inspected the foundations for the 'National School' (probably at Bishops House, EHER 25355) in 1847 and recorded a very large iron nail, other Saxon nails, rings and a glass bottle.

1847. Antiquarian observation. In 1847, the digging of foundations for the school adjoining the north-east corner of the churchyard prompted the discovery of a Roman finds assemblage, see EHER 4958. A very large iron nail (the head was 25.4mm in diameter), was also found [though it is unclear if it was from the area in the 'cavity'], which Braybrooke considered to be Saxon in date. Other finds included several Saxon nails and iron rings. A glass bottle was recovered; it had a globular base and was of very heavy material, short in the neck and much larger in diameter at the centre than at the mouth. ‘Judging from the remains constantly disinterred in its vicinity, I should be inclined to class this vessel with those of the 8th or 9th century’. There had been a pond on this site which was infilled in 1844 prior to the digging of the foundations. <1>