SMR Number 0147201000, Grid Reference SU 903 859

Reports of finds of ninth to tenth century Viking metalwork during the excavation of the Lock Cut in 1856 and later

SMR Number 0147201001, Grid Reference SU 903 859

Ninth to tenth century Viking metalwork found in dredging operation in the nineteenth century

SMR Number 0146500001, Grid Reference SU 90330 86090

SMR Number 0146500003, Grid Reference SU 90330 86090

2 FRAGS OF A CHILD'S SKULL FOUND BELOW LEVEL OF FLOORING DURING EXCAVATION.(BI1)

SMR Number 0146500004, Grid Reference SU 90330 86090

Iron Age metalwork found in excavation of wooden structure at Hedsor Wharf

Dimensions - Length 0155 mm
IRON SPEARHEAD FOUND WHILE DIGGING A CESSPOOL IN 1894. SPEARHEAD HAS OPEN SOCKET & 2 RIVET OR PIN HOLES ON EACH SIDE. NECK BETWEEN BLADE & SOCKET IS ORNAMENTED WITH 3 TRANSVERSE BANDS, REPRESENTING CONVENTIONALISED STRING ATTACHMENT TO SHAFT.(BI1)

SMR Number 0146500005, Grid Reference SU 90330 86090

Neolithic to Bronze Age flint flakes found in dumped soil and in excavation of wooden structure at Hedsor Wharf

ORCHARD WHERE 1895 EXCAVATIONS CARRIED OUT HAD BEEN RAISED ARTIFICALLY 75CM ABOVE SURROUNDING GROUND & IN THIS (IMPORTED) MATERIAL FLINT FLAKES WERE FOUND. OTHER FLINTS FOUND IN LOWER LEVELS.(BI1) SEVERAL FLINT FLAKES & SCRAPERS FOUND LOW DOWN IN & NEAR PILE VILLAGE.(BI8)

SMR Number 0146500006, Grid Reference SU 90330 86090

Medieval wooden mallet found in excavation of wooden structure at Hedsor Wharf
DURING MECHANICAL EXCAVATION OF AN ORNAMENTAL POOL VARIOUS PILES WERE RECOVERED. ALSO FOUND WAS A STRANGE WOODEN OBJECT 38CM LONG & C11.5 CM IN DIAMETER AT ITS WIDEST. (PHOTO) (BI2). PHOTO SHOWS OBJECT : TRUNCATED CONICAL HEAD C23CM LONG WITH HANDLE AT BROADEST END ?BEETLE (WOODWORKING MALLET) (BI9)

SMR Number 0146500002, Grid Reference SU 90330 86090

Medieval animal remains and oyster shells found in excavation of wooden structure at Hedsor Wharf

ANIMAL BONES & LARGE QUANTITY OF OYSTER SHELLS FOUND AT VARIOUS LEVELS ABOVE FLOORING, & AMONG FLOORING. ANIMALS INCLUDED PIG, RED DEER, SHEEP, OX, DOG & HORSE. (BI1) HORSE BONES FOUND DURING EXCAVATION OF ORNAMENTAL POOL, 1968/69.(BI2)

SMR Number 0555700000, Grid Reference SU 90410 86020

Two wharves at Hedsor in the sixteenth century, combined in 1579, disused after 1830.

IN 1556 2 WHARVES. C.1570 THOS SAUNDERS TOOK OVER NEW WHARF & A HOUSE THEREON LATELY BUILDED CALLED SAUNDERS WHARF. BRICK FOUNDATIONS OF THIS C16 BLDG STILL STAND NEAR WHARF HOUSE. BOTH WHARVES COMBINED 1579. NEW LOCK & CUT, 1830 ENDED WHARF'S COMMERCIAL LIFE (B1-3, B5). USED FOR SHIPPING TILES, POTS ETC (B4, B6)
In 1556, Sir Edmund Peckham sold Hedsor Manor to Ralph Hawtry with the exception of 'one wharf' which was sold to Richard Over. Ralph Hawtrey sold the manor to Rowland Hyde in 1573 and the deed cites a lease by Ralph Hawtrey to Thomas Saunders of a wharf called 'New Wharf' with 'a house thereon lately built'. The new wharf subsequently became known as Saunders Wharf. In 1579, Saunders Wharf also was sold to Richard Over. George Ives, Lord Boston, compiled the later history of the wharf and houses after suceeding to the ownership in 1856. A watercolour of 1812 shows that the original house had been converted to a stables and outhouses and the brewhouse converted to servants halls. In 1895-6 extensive alterations were carried out. In advance of the demolition of buildings at Hedsor Wharf to build a new house, a desk based assessment was carried out. The earliest brick structure (E-W) of the building was thought to be possibly earlier than the 18th century date given by Pevsner, however it was found that Lord Boston had further extensively remodelled the house after 1925 and that the house had been enlarged and remodelled again in 1969-71. Saunders Wharf, a seperate building on the site had been in use as a guesthouse but had been largely gutted (B7).
Samples, test pits and trenches were dug and revealed background prehistoric activity. The presence of middle Saxon pottery indicated settlement activity in the 11th-12th century. Dumped deposits were noted, possibly a backfilling of the hollow way during re-landscaping of the gardens during the house's original construction (B8).

SMR Number 0147200000, Grid Reference SU 903 859

Possible site of tenth century burh suggested by historical records, but not found in excavation.

SASHES ISLAND ALMOST CERTAINLY SITE OF BURH OF SCEAFTSEGE, LISTED IN 914 AD BURGHAL HIDAGE. NO TRACE OF EARTHWORKS, BUT THESE MAY HAVE BEEN CONCEALED WHEN LOCK-CUT DUG IN 1830 & EARTH SPREAD OVER MOST OF ISLAND TO DEPTH OF C1.2M. DREDGING OF CUT HAS PRODUCED LATE SAXON WEAPONS (SEE 01:000)(B1).
David Hill and Derek Robinson carried out research into Sashes Island in 1995. The Roman road from St Albans to Silchester, the Camlet Way, is said to cross the Thames at Sashes and pass through to Cookham. It is likely that the crossing was near the Hedsor Wharf where a 19th century excvation revealed part of the Roman bridge. It has been suggested the the cut on the north side of Sashes Island is Roman in origin to form a port for ships. The Burghal Hiladge lists 33 Royal fortifications in Wessex and suggest that the 10th century defences of 'Sceaftessige' were 4.125ft long. The first map of Sashes is circa 1580 and shows a lage bend in the river and a flat water meadow. To the NW there is a small island, Headsor Eyot, divided from the main island by the 5m wide Hedsor ditch. Hedsor Eyot has a distinct mound. A dispute in 1605 relates to the litigation between Roelan Hyde of Hedsor and Henry Mansfield. Mansfield had removed the weir at the upstream head of Sashes Water and thus depriving Hynde of shipping dues in Hedsor reach. The 1580 map accompanying the legal documents shows a main channel, weir, 'the warbour' and three fishing streams radiating from it downstream: Babham Water would appear to be Lulle Brook, Sashes Water appears to cross the island corresponding with a channel marked on the 1808 map and the Kings Water or central/main channel. During the digging of the lock cut the Mill Eyot to the SW was also covered by spoil from the cutting. A number of finds have been made in the later 19th century and in the mid 20th century including Danish and Viking weapons. Ethelwared's account of Alfred the Great includes the reference to the Batlle of Farnham when the Danes were driven N and besieged in Thorney, an island of marshy land. In the Anglo Saxon Chronicle the event is also described ' the Danes fled across the Thames where there is no ford, and up the Colne onto an islet.' The alternate origin of the name 'Thorney' is the 'island of the stake' which could relate to the 10th century name for Sashes - Sceaftes-sige - island of the pole. Seven 1m x 1m test pits were dug - 2 on Odney Common to the south and 5 on Sashes Island. A trial trench was also cut on the Hedsor Eyot. Pit 5 to the S of the Lock Cut confirmed the depostion of material from the construction of the cut. Test pits 1, 2, 6, and 7 revealed the natural and finds of charcoal and pottery were made. Three test pits were dug on the Hedsor Eyot and revealed early modern deposition of alluvium. A large anomaly was recorded during a resistivity survey in NW (B4).

SMR Number 0146500000,Grid Reference SU 90330 86090

Wooden structure at Hedsor Wharf recorded in the late nineteenth century as Roman but more recent excavation and historic documents suggest a medieval date

FLOORING OF OAK & BEECH TIMBER & BRUSHWOOD FOUND 2.6M DOWN DURING DIGGING FOR CESSPOOL IN 1894, & EXCAV IN 1895. FLOOR SUPPORTED ON PILES. ?ROMAN POT (B1, B10-12).
POOL DUG OUT 1969 ON SITE & PILES RECOVERED (B2).
POT ALL POST-ROMAN: PILES PROB MED (B1-4 ).
DOC SOURCE OF C13 MENTIONS PILES PUT IN RIVER (B5).

SMR Number 0147202000, Grid Reference SU 903 859

Reports of Roman burials being made during the excavaton of the Lock Cut in the 1850s

A NUMBER OF SKELETONS, ROMAN SWORDS & JAVELIN HEADS WERE FOUND IN SASHES FIELD WHEN MAKING THE NEW CUT. FINDS IN POSSESSION OF LORD BOSTON (B2). AN INTERESTING BUT DUBIOUS REPORT, BUT PROXIMITY OF ROAD FROM SILCHESTER TO VERULAMIUM MEANS SOME KIND OF SETTLEMENT COULD BE EXPECTED HERE (B3).

SMR Number 0147104000, Grid Reference SU 90600 86300

Possible deserted medieval or post-medieval settlement identified in field visit

HEDSOR IN LIST OF BUCKS DMV'S (B7). NO TRACE OF SETTLEMENT PATTERN IS VISIBLE IN THIS PASTURED VALLEY BOTTOM. NOTHING VISIBLE ON AVAILABLE APS (B6).

SMR Number 0147100000, Grid Reference SU 90780 86160

Manorial history of medieval and post-medieval manor of Hedsor

NO MENTION OF HEDSOR IN DOMESDAY, BUT IT MUST HAVE BEEN INCLUDED EITHER IN BISHOP OF BAYEUX OR MILES CRISPIN'S LANDS, SINCE IN 1166 IT APPEARS AS A KNIGHT'S FEE ATTATCHED TO THE HONOUR OF WALLINGFORD (MANORIAL HISTORY)(B1-2).

SMR Number 0147102000, Grid Reference SU 90780 86160

Roman pottery and oyster shells found in garden

DURING DRY WEATHER THE EXISTENCE OF EARLY FOOTINGS CAN BE READILY TRACED IN LAWN. QUANTITIES OF OYSTER SHELLS & FRAGMENTS OF ROMAN POT HAVE BEEN FOUND IN GARDEN & ADJOINING CHURCHYARD (B6).

SMR Number 0146702002, Grid Reference SU 90030 85870

Fragment of Neolithic bowl found in the Thames at Hedsor

FRAGMENT OF NEOLITHIC BOWL GIVEN BY LORD BOSTON TO BCM (PHOTO FILED)(B7).

SMR Number 0146700000, Grid Reference SU 90020 85860

Late prehistoric to early medieval artefacts found in the River Thames at Hedsor up to 1920

VARIOUS ARTEFACTS FOUND IN THE RIVER THAMES NEAR HEDSOR IN THE YEARS UP TO 1920. THESE COVERED THE PERIOD FROM NEOLITHIC TO SAXON (B1-8). APPROX NGR WORKED OUT FROM LOCATIONAL INFORMATION IN B1-8 (B9).

SMR Number 0146701000, Grid Reference SU 90020 85860

Mesolithic tranchet axegead found in the Thames at Hedsor

THAMES PICK FOUND IN THAMES AT HEDSOR (B1-2).

SMR Number 0146702000, Grid Reference SU 90020 85860

Three Neolithic flint axes found in the Thames at Hedsor

3 CHIPPED FLINT CELTS FOUND IN THAMES AT HEDSOR (B1-2).

SMR Number 0146702001, Grid Reference SU 90030 85870

Neolithic pottery bowl found in the Thames at Hedsor

SMR Number 0146703000, Grid Reference SU 90020 85840

Bronze Age metalwork found in the Thames at Hedsor

2 BRONZE SPEARHEADS (B1). 2 LOOPED & SOCKETED BRONZE SPEARHEADS (B5). BRONZE SPEARHEAD (B8).

SMR Number 0146703001, Grid Reference SU 90020 85860

Bronze Age bone dagger found in the Thames at Hedsor

BONE DAGGER (B1). BONE DAGGER, PROBABLY BRONZE AGE, SIMILAR TO THOSE FIGURED IN THE LAYTON COLLECTION, BRENTFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY (B2).

SMR Number 0146704000, Grid Reference SU 90020 85860

Early Iron Age metalwork found in the Thames at Hedsor

4 IRON SPEARHEADS (B1). 4 EARLY IRON AGE SPEARHEADS (B2).

SMR Number 0146705000, Grid Reference SU 90020 85860

Saxon pottery bowl found in the Thames at Hedsor
SAXON BOWL (B1). BOWL, DEFINITELY ANGLO-SAXON (B2).

SMR Number 0489300000, Grid Reference SU 89700 85700

Late Saxon metalwork found in the Thames

SPEARHEAD, WINGED, C10. FOUND UPSTREAM FROM COOKHAM BRIDGE IN 1951 (B1). SPEARHEAD, WINGED, C9-C11 AD. FOUND BY P R CLARKE, 1958, AT COOKHAM (B1). NGR DERIVED FROM ABOVE (B2).

SMR Number 0489301000, Grid Reference SU 89700 85700

Late Bronze Age metalwork found in the Thames

LATE BRONZE AGE SPEARHEAD, FOUND AT COOKHAM (B1). NGR

SMR Number 0543101001, Grid Reference SU 90650 86450

2 COINS FOUND BY MEMBERS OF S BUCKS METAL DETECTOR CLUB IN FIELD S OF HEDSOR TOWER. 1 COIN FOUND BY H HANSON. OBV: 'IMPLICINVS PFAVG'; REV: 'GENCOPOPROM; MINT: LONDON PLN; DATE: AD310-312; RIC209C. OTHER, FOUND DECKLE, OBV: CONSTANTINE 1; REV: 'VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP VOT PR'. MINT TRIER; AD310 (B1)

SMR Number 0543100000, Grid Reference SU 90650 86450

Saxon metalwork found in metal-detecting survey

Dimensions - Radius 0019 mm
CAST SAUCER BROOCH FOUND BY A HOPKINS IN FIELD S OF HEDSOR TOWER. ON BACK & CAST WITH BROOCH ARE 2 LUGS FOR PIN ATTATCHMENT & 1 ?ABRADED FOR CATCH PLATE. PERIMETER OF BROOCH SLIGHTLY CORRODED, & HAS 3 CONCENTRIC GROOVES. 'BULL'S EYE' IN CENTRE & AROUND THIS CROUCHING BEASTS NOSE TO TAIL (B1). PUBLISHED (B2).

SMR Number 0543101000, Grid Reference SU 90650 86450

Roman metalwork found in metal-detecting survey

14 COINS FOUND BY S BUCKS METAL DETECTOR CLUB IN FIELD S OF HEDSOR TOWER. 12 ILLEGIBLE, 13-21MM DIAMETER. 1 24MM DIAMETER, HAS LARGE CHRISTOGRAM ON REV: DOUBLE CENTIONALIS OF MAGNENTIUS, C.350 AD. 1 ANTONINIANUS OF TETRICUS II, REV: 'PRINCIVVENT' (B1).

SMR Number 0117703000, Grid Reference SU 89620 87360

Roman pottery and tile and medieval pottery found in museum, thought to be found at Bourne End railway cutting in the nineteenth century

NOTES & LABELS FOUND WITH MATERIAL IN BCM, BUT NOT NECESSARILY ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OTHER, OR WITH SAXON SITE (00-02). 1 NOTE SAYS 'POTTERY, BONES & FLINT FOUND AT BOURNE END NR RAILWAY CUTTING'. ANOTHER 'ROM POTTERY, RAILWAY CUTTING NR BOURNE END'. FINDS MOSTLY ROMAN POTTERY & TILE & SOME MEDIEVAL POT (B5).

SMR Number 0117702001, Grid Reference SU 89780 87170

Early Saxon metalwork found in the early twentieth century
COLMER PAINTED & DESCRIBED FINDS GIVEN TO HIM BY JACKSON IN 1934 (SEE 00:000). FINDS THEMSELVES ARE LOST, BUT DATABLE FROM HIS ILLUSTRATION. 2 SPEARHEADS, LEAF-SHAPED, 1 & PROBABLY BOTH WITH SPLIT SOCKET. SWANTON'S SERIES C GROUP. BOTH ARE LONG LIVED TYPES, C6-C8 (B3-4).

SMR Number 0117702002, Grid Reference SU 89780 87170

Early Saxon metalwork found in the early twentieth century

SWORD BLADE WITH CURVED BACK PAINTED & DESCRIBED BY COLMER WOULD NOW BE DESCRIBED AS A SEAX, LIKELY TO ACCOMPANY HIGH STATUS BURIAL. CHARACTERISTIC OF C7 GRAVES, BUT CONTINUES INTO LATE SAXON PERIOD. GROOVE AT BACK MIGHT HAVE HELD INLAY (B3-4).

SMR Number 0117702003, Grid Reference SU 89780 87170

Early Saxon metalwork found in the early twentieth century

4 KNIVES PAINTED & DESCRIBED BY COLMER. NOT CLOSELY DATABLE, THOUGH COMMON IN GRAVES OF THIS PERIOD. 1 WITH A CURVED BACK HAD AN INLAY GROOVE, AS DID ANOTHER, SUGGESTING RELATIONSHIP TO SEAX TYPE, BUT MUCH SMALLER. A FURTHER KNIFE-LIKE OBJECT MAY BE SEPARATE OBJECT - FUNCTION UNKNOWN - OF C7 (B3-4).

SMR Number 0117702004, Grid Reference SU 89780 87170

Early Saxon metalwork found in the early twentieth century

PART OF A BRONZE BAND WITH 6 ROWS OF PUNCHED DOTS IT (WOULD) COMPLETE A CIRCLE ABOUT 1.5 INCHES DIAMETER (SKETCHED). IN 2 PIECES (B4). ALMOST CERTAINLY FROM A THREAD BOX OF C7 DATE. MANY SUCH BOXES ARE DECORATED WITH PATTERNS OF PUNCHED DOTS (B3).

SMR Number 0117701000, Grid Reference SU 89620 87360

MANY SAXON RELICS - SWORDS, KNIVES & OTHER RELICS - FOUND ALONG THE LAND NOW OCCUPIED BY RAILWAY LINE BETWEEN LEVEL CROSSING & BOURNE END STATION: MANY OBJECTS TAKEN AWAY BY VILLAGERS(B4). THESE FINDS PROBABLY MADE DURING CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY LINE, 1852-4 (B3).

SMR Number 0117700000, Grid Reference SU 89680 87270

Early Saxon inhumation cemetery found during the Second World War at Bourne End
POSSIBLE A/S CEMETERY NOTED PRE WW2 (B1). EXISTENCE NOT CORROBORATED;SITE OMITTED FROM OS PERIOD MAPS (B2-3). COLMER'S PAPERS SHOW THERE WAS A CEMETERY, PROB EXTENSIVE; NO FINDS SURVIVE. FINDS FROM 2 SEPARATE LOCATIONS? (B4).EVIDENCE RECONSIDERED. INDICATES C7-C8 CEMETERY. FINDS ETC ILLUS (B3).