The Products Of A Single Year
In the year 1863, there was an article in the Reliquary to be seen in the ChesterArchives, written by our Mr. Ecroyd Smith, mentioned earlier, showing the products of the seashore of Cheshire during a single year.
We must bear it in mind that these were not the bounty of the metal detector but what those who are familiar with this hobby as"Eyes only".
This is the year 1862, his enumeration, which was adapted to an arrangement, will show better than anything I could say, the productiveness of the locality. I qoute his comment:
"Almost all the older objects are washed out of the beach, and, despite the unremitting care of a local collector, no doubt many escape the notice through never being wholly freed from the overwhelming sand, which the continued undermining of the bank debouches on the shore. In the course of time these are buried under the growing East Hoyle, ( Hoylake ) and other sandbanks further seaward, where doubtlessly are also entombed inumerable relics of historic and national interest, swept from the mainland long before the remains attracted attention."
It was well known that, about 1823 remains were to be met with in great numbers; though but few were obtained at the time.
1. Arranged chronologically:
Roman. - A brass coin of Caruasus; a lyre-shaped fibula brooch; a bronze pin and a bronze buckle found on Hilbre Island.
Norman and Mediaeval. ( Chiefly tenth to fourteenth century.) A bronze brooch, three silver pennies of Edward I.or II. a brass pin; hasps; nine tags; buckle-shanks; fourteen strap ornaments of brass; nine buckle, brass; a broad arrow; three iron knives; five fish-hooks; a scent box or cofferet; part of a ring brooch; four portions of leaden brooches; fragment of pewter buckles; a strap tag of lead; a cubical weight or die, lead; a coffer handle, lead or pewter; two hasps or fastenings of lead or pewter; a strap ornament; a bone knife-handle.
Later English. -- A silver coin of Elizabeth or James I.; a tradesman's copper token, 1667; ditto, 1669; a pewter buckle, a brass coat link; seven tobacco pipes, sixteenth century; seven ditto, seventeenth century.
Roman Fibulae. -- One, lyre-shaped, bronze, two inches long without acus or pin, was in good preservation.
Circular Brooches. -- A fragment of lead or more likely to be of pewter, resembling those upon the leaden chrismatories or collars worn by ecclesiastics in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Four portions of other brooches, lead or pewter.
Buckle Brooches. -- One bronze, of peculiar form. It was of Celtic pattern, with serpent head terminations recurved along the sides of the brooch. Between them they sustain an armoral shield. Others of this class, but more circular in form, like the Irish types, have been found on former occasions. They were of rare occurrence in England in the 18th century. Several consist of a succession of rings, in imitation of the bodies of snakes.
Buckles with attachments. -- Several of the attachments or shanks were found separately, and one with the buckle complete. A fragment of leather on one remained between the plates of the shank.
Buckles alone. -- There were eight examples of brass, several retaining the acus; another portion of a buckle which was reputed to be of either lead or pewter, but pewter would be more than likely for it seems that lead would not withstand the pressures of an expanding waist, this object was decorated with a flower-shaped pattern.
Tags or strap-ends. Nine of brass, mediaeval. One of pewter laso mediaeval. Exact date unknown.
Strap ornaments. -- Fourteen lozenge-shaped pieces of brass, one of pewter.
Iron Knives. -- Three blades from two to four inches long.
Coffer-handles and mounting. -- A handle of pewter.
Implements of war or the Chase. -- A broad arrow, slightly over two inches long.
Pins, Tweezers, etc. -- One bronze Roman pin, with hemispherical head, one inch long. A brass pin, mediaeval, with flat circular head, two and a half inches long.
Seals, Tokens, and Coins. -- A scent-box or cofferet, twelfth or thirteenth century, with an inscription like that round the rim of pilgrim signs, AJCHOSNJ, which has been rendered thus: - A J(esus) CH(ristus) O(mnium) S(alvator) N(azarenus) J(udaeorum). It was circular in form, one inch in diameter, and a third of an inch in thickness: the division being equal, and joined by hasp or hinge at opposite sides. The faces are similar- an open Saxon cross occupying the centre of each side, the bars of which is separated by a pellet within an amulet.
Roman brooches of the circular form occur occasionally, the pin or acus on a spring-type hinge and a fastener.
Tradesmen's Tokens. -- Two of copper-one Obverse THOMAS KNIGHT; a roll of tobacco occupying the field. Reverse. -- Of Cearnarvon, 1667; 1d in the field, I have not been able to trace any existance of this tradesman.
The other token had on the Obverse, CHARLES CHRISTIAN, and a building, supposed to be Liverpool Castle, in the field; on the reverse, Grocer in Liverpoole (with an `e') and in the field, His Penny, 1669.
Coins. -- A third bronze, of Caruasius, a rare example in 1850, now, of course there is many. Three silver pennies of Edward I or II, minted at London, (London Civitas).
A small silver threepenny piece of Elizabeth Ist or James Ist.
Miscellaneous Objects of Metal. -- A cube of lead, like a die; apparently a weight. A coat-link of brass, with masonic emblems.
Pottery Pipes. -- Seven tobacco pipe heads of clay, sixteenth century. The potter’s marks are ER, IB, and RA. Seven Ditto, seventeenth century, potter's mark, BEN LEGG, ED, IB, IL.
Animal remains. -- Bone knife handle, ornamented at the part next to the blade - length, two inches.
Thus it appears that, during a single year, so many as ninety objects were recoverd by the exercise of a little attention and observation; and there is no doubt that they were more abundant in the years prior to 1850, before the sea had advanced so far upon the land.
Yet before these private collections began to assume form, it would have been difficult it would have been difficult to to show ninety objects altogether, though some of these were of great value or beauty.
For want of such attention, antiquirian objects in other parts of the country were lost almost as readily as they were found; no information gained, or materials for philosophy furnished; and that which both sea and land had not merely spared, but even preserved, was wantonly destroyed by the people of that age, professingto occupy a position of advanced civilisation.
We have in place, in this modern age, protection now for all artefacts, coins and pottery in the shape of the Treasure Act of 1996. But my experience tells me that only those associated with the recovery and recording of such objects are fully aware of its existance.
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