Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

A uncertain quantity of graves, orientated east to west, were found in 1828 on Bower Farm, Mersham. These contained some human skeletal remains and a number of Anglo-Saxon grave goods have also been found in the area. Amongst the artefacts recovered are a number of brooches including one of the earliest square-headed brooches that may be of Scandinavian manufacture. Also found at the site was a decorated buckle crystal ball and chain, a silver finger ring and beads, a sword and spearhead, a knife, buckles and a bronze basin. All these finds have been dated to the 6th century and most are now in Canterbury Museum.

Monument Types

• INHUMATION (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)

Associated Finds

• BALL (RITUAL) (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• BEAD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• BROOCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• BUCKLE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• KNIFE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• RING (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• SPEARHEAD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• SWORD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

About three graves, orientated E-W, were found in 1828 by a farm labourer digging stone for road mending on Bower Farm, Mersham. Grave I, female, contained a small square headed brooch, Leeds Class 1a disc brooch, Frankish rautenfibel garnet set saucer brooch, decorated buckle crystal ball and chain, silver finger ring and beads. Grave II, contained a sword, spearhead, knife, buckles and a bronze basin, all C6th. The objects are in Canterbury Museum. (1) Mr T.G Pilcher of Bower Farm indicated two overgrown, stonepits at TR 05903965 and TR 05783920 which were used for road mending about 1820. The quarry at TR 05553910 was opened c. 1940. (2) Anglo Saxon remains from Mersham. Bronze buckle and oblong buckle-plate set with garnet and incised. In Canterbury Museum. (3) TR 052393. Inhumation burial. Before 1852 two buckles and an oblong ornament, gilt and set with garnets, were said to have been found at Mersham, and may be taken as evidence for at least one burial. (4) A keystone garnet disc brooch, Canterbury Museum Acc No 2632 and a square headed brooch, Canterbury Museum Acc No 2636, both from Mersham are assessed in a study of cross-latched gold foil used as backings for garnet and glass settings on jewellery of the 6th and 7th centuries. The second brooch is one of the earliest square-headed brooches and may perhaps be of Scandinavian manufacture. (5)

<1> Letter (S Hawkes, 16 7 63) (OS Card Reference). SKE46082.

<2> Ms Letter from E. Hughes of Smeeth Hill House to Cant Phil & Lit Soc (OS Card Reference). SKE47454.

<3> Canterbury Phil & Lit Soc Ann Rep 1928 (OS Card Reference). SKE38550.

<4> Ants in Canterbury Mus 1985 Hoff (J Brent) (OS Card Reference). SKE33303.

<5> Beginnings of Salin's Style I in England 1958 60 fig 52 (Egil Bakka) (OS Card Reference). SKE37620.

<6> Coll Ant 2 1852 163 pl xxxvii 5 & xxxviii 6-7 (C R Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE39097.

<7> Invent Sep 1856 xix (B Faussett) (OS Card Reference). SKE44490.

<8> F1 FGA 31-MAR-1965 (OS Card Reference). SKE43003.

<9> VCH Kent 1 1908 385 (R A Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE50873.

<10> Letter (N C Cook, 18 3 1933) (OS Card Reference). SKE46067.

<11> Gazetteer of Early AS Burial Sites 1964 128 (A Meaney) (OS Card Reference). SKE43575.

<12> Medieval Archaeol 21 1977 16 19 34 40 (R Avent & D Leigh) (OS Card Reference). SKE46845.

<13> Field report for monument TR 03 NE 10 - March, 1965 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5082.

Sources and further reading