Neolithic or Early Bronze Age axe head, Three Horse Shoes (EHER 6439)

A perforated stone object of Neolithic or Early Bronze Age date, probably a macehead or axe hammer, was found in September 1935 in the garden of the Three Horseshoes Public House, Cressing, at a depth of 1.2 metres while digging post holes for a fence. In 1940 it was in the collection of Mr H Mothersole of Chelmsford.

A stone adze-like axe was found in 1935 in the garden of the Three Horse Shoes Public House 100 yards north of the church. It was found 14 ft down when digging a hole for a well. The implement was perforated, 'of a hard fine-grained stone of a grey colour, with a dark-brown patina. It weighs 2 lbs 6 oz and is 7 3/8 inches long, 3 1/8 inches wide, and 2 1/8 inches thick'. Both ends were ground to a rounded edge and the sides were flat. The shaft-hole tapered inwards (from 1 3/ 8 ins to 2/3 ins) from both faces. One of the faces was possibly more convex than the other. A photo of the object is in this source. In 1922 it was 'in the possession of Mr H Mothersole, of Chelmsford'. (Colchester Museum has a Mothersole collection, does it include this object?). <1> NRHE data transfer: A perforated stone adze-like axe (photograph and dimensions suggest the description of 'cushion macehead' or 'axe-hammer') found September 1935 in the garden of the Three Horse-shoes Public House, Cressing (centred TL 792209) at a depth of about 14ft. by Mr. G. Clark when digging a hole for a well. The implement is 7 3/8 ins. long, 3 1/8 ins. wide and 2 1/8 ins. thick with an hour glass perforation. It is now in the possession of Mr. H. Mothersole, Chelmsford. <1> January 1950. Field survey. Mr. S. Smith indicated the find spot at TL 7939 2044. He stated that the implement was found at a depth of 1.2m. whilst digging post holes for a fence. <2> <3> NRHE summary description: A perforated stone object of Neolithic or Early Bronze Age date, probably a macehead or axe hammer, was found in September 1935 in the garden of the Three Horseshoes Public House, Cressing, at a depth of 1.2 metres while digging post holes for a fence. In 1940 it was in the collection of Mr H Mothersole of Chelmsford.