Some Saxon Remains found near Stoke Ferry

Abstract

In October last, I was visiting the gravel pits in this neighbourhood, and on reaching one in the parish of Wretton, about half a mile west of Stoke Ferry, one of the men mentioned some bones and an iron spearhead they had found some time previously. I asked to see them, and was taken to another part of the workings, where on a ledge near the surface of the ground was a small hole dug into the face of the pit. Projecting from the hole was a large bone, and stuck into the earth at the side, the spearhead. As they seemed to value their find very lightly, I gave the men a trifle and brought away the articles, asking them to keep any further finds for me.Some six weeks after, I paid them another visit. Nothing further had been done at this particular spot; two of the men, however, volunteered to dig into the side and see if there was anything else. At the first blow of the pick another large bone was unearthed, a practically complete femur. Soon after this an iron knife blade came to light, then on the right side of the body an iron shield boss, and near the head a small iron knife. No other relics were found beyond a few pieces of bone, all with the exception of the two femurs in a very friable state. Three small pieces of the cranium were all that remained of that part. One arm appeared to have been extended above the head, as part of a humerus was lying upright on the remains of the skull. The spearhead must have been near the feet, as it was found first.