Roman finds assemblage and probable burials, at the Hollow way from Chesterford to Strethall, Great Chesterford (EHER 83422)

An account of the discovery of an extensive metalwork assemblage including Roman coins, horse accessories, dress accessories and rings. It appears the assemblage was recovered in at least three separate discoveries, the dates of which are not given but may have been in 1769, 1764/1766 and in around 1771 or 1772. Also mentioned in the account of the discovery were "six or seven small dark urns, one stood upon a whole skeleton; one of them was large with burnt bones, which they ignorantly flung away." These probably represent the remains of at least one or maybe several burials.

In 1776 Stukeley recorded information given by Mr Shepherd of Bordeaux Farm, Chesterford: "About seven years ago [1711?], was found in the hollow road from Chesterford to Strethall, a piece of gold, weighing eight pounds, in the shape of a horse’s bit, and was supposed to be worth £500 or £600 to the miller who was so lucky to find it, and who disappeared with it. A large piece of melted bronze lay over the gold, as big and thick as my hand. A bronze spoon, the bowl flattish, with a piece standing up at the further end of the bowl, to prevent its going beyond the teeth, the handle small and about five inches long; six or seven small dark urns, one stood upon a whole skeleton; one of them was large with burnt bones, which they ignorantly flung away, and unfurnished of its proper furniture; another of them was white, two inches high. A bronze head, an inch high, and helmeted with a hole through the upper part of the crest to hang it by: it was hollow and two inches high. A bronze fibula. A bronze pin, six inches long, with a small head of two circles below it. Silver denarii, sixteen or twenty-two, including base silver, — Vespasian, Trajan, Adrian, Verus, Lucilla, Gratianus, Valens. Twelve large bronze Domitian, six Gallus. Ten or twelve years ago was found a large pot full of silver coins, of which I have some by me still, of different Faustinas, Vitellius, Antoninus Pius, &c.; and about four or five years ago, the present miller of this town, digging thereabouts, light upon a large pot of gold rings, which through avarice he sold, without acquainting any soul with his design, to a goldsmith in London.… These rings were thought by some, to be those used by the Roman knights on their wrists." <1> Note: The suggestion that the first recounted finds were recovered in 1711 may be an error made by source <1>, unless the comments made by Mr Shepherd were to have taken place many years prior to Stukeley publishing them. The published account was made in 1776, and seven years prior to this would place the discovery in around 1769. The subsequent recounted discoveries may have, therefore, been made in 1764/1766 ("ten or twelve years ago") and in around 1771 or 1772 ("about four or five years ago"). The mapped location may not be precise.