Saxon and Viking Hazelbury Text and Photos Steven Simmons April 2024
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Front and reverse of a coin brooch of Edward the Confessor found at Hazelbury
The early medieval finds I have discovered by metal detecting at Hazelbury are extraordinary for North West Wiltshire. I was inspired by the article Early Medieval Box that was published on the website a while ago, which said 'There is no evidence of Saxon Box apart from field and place names'. The early medieval finds at Hazelbury I believe have filled that gap and indeed proven constant occupation through the early medieval era.
Edward the Confessor Coin Brooch
The Edward the Confessor nummular brooch in the headline photograph was struck at Shrewsbury in silver in the years
1050-1053. At some later date, the coin was gilded and turned into a brooch with religious connotations. The coin itself is one of only three known of this type. All three were struck with the same dies by Godesbrand of Shrewsbury. The others were found in a relatively small area south of the Thames and one was turned into nummular brooches.
Nummular brooches in themselves are not overly unusual but this one is. The British museum described it as the best quality brooch they have handled, being gilded on both sides rather just the front. The four cross pattée (in the shape of German Iron Cross) are what set this find apart from other known Edward the Confessor brooches. It is now on display in the Wiltshire Museum, Devizes.
Edward the Confessor Coin Brooch
The Edward the Confessor nummular brooch in the headline photograph was struck at Shrewsbury in silver in the years
1050-1053. At some later date, the coin was gilded and turned into a brooch with religious connotations. The coin itself is one of only three known of this type. All three were struck with the same dies by Godesbrand of Shrewsbury. The others were found in a relatively small area south of the Thames and one was turned into nummular brooches.
Nummular brooches in themselves are not overly unusual but this one is. The British museum described it as the best quality brooch they have handled, being gilded on both sides rather just the front. The four cross pattée (in the shape of German Iron Cross) are what set this find apart from other known Edward the Confessor brooches. It is now on display in the Wiltshire Museum, Devizes.
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Other Coin Finds
I found another coin in the same area (but independent from the coin brooch). This is a small flan-type silver penny, a style of coin used in England after the 970s. The coin found at Hazelbury is also from the reign of Edward the Confessor, minted by ‘Burred’ in London and dated between 1048 and 1050. In the last three decades only 53 of these coins are recorded, most in the counties of Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Yorkshire. This is the third coin of this type recorded in Wiltshire. The dating, naming and siting of coins was an innovation by King Edgar, the first king of a united England, when he reformed coinage to make it standard throughout his kingdom probably in the 970s AD. The practice was continued by subsequent rulers. Right: Small flan-type silver penny |
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Buckles
These two Ringerike-style buckles are really the stars of the show; one with an animal head and one trifoliate. They were made of copper alloy probably in the period 1000-1150 AD. In the last three decades there have been seven Ringerike-style buckles recorded in England; one in Shaftesbury the others in Kent, Hampshire, Sussex and Essex. They are classed as Anglo-Scandinavian. Finding one is unusual, finding two in one field is exceptional. The Ringerike-style is named after carved stones found in a district of Norway. The style is dated to the eleventh century. The style refers to the evolution of traditional styles of Viking art with thinner and longer representations of animals and plants. Left: Two Ringerike-style buckles |
Military Chapes
Chapes were placed at the end of sword and dagger scabbards to prevent damage to the weapon and protect holders from injuring themselves. They were a vital component when scabbards were made of leather rather than metal. The two scabbard chapes although extremely similar reflect a changing culture. One is Anglo Norman the other Anglo Scandinavian. The more complete Anglo Norman chape is the second recorded in Wiltshire, there have been 44 recorded in the UK over the last three decades. The Anglo Scandinavian chape is one of eight recorded in Britain, none of which had previously been found in Wiltshire. The chapes found at Hazelbury depict animal shapes for decoration. They were made of a copper alloy metal and are believed to date to the period 1000 to 1100 AD.
Chapes were placed at the end of sword and dagger scabbards to prevent damage to the weapon and protect holders from injuring themselves. They were a vital component when scabbards were made of leather rather than metal. The two scabbard chapes although extremely similar reflect a changing culture. One is Anglo Norman the other Anglo Scandinavian. The more complete Anglo Norman chape is the second recorded in Wiltshire, there have been 44 recorded in the UK over the last three decades. The Anglo Scandinavian chape is one of eight recorded in Britain, none of which had previously been found in Wiltshire. The chapes found at Hazelbury depict animal shapes for decoration. They were made of a copper alloy metal and are believed to date to the period 1000 to 1100 AD.
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Anglo-Norman chape left and Anglo-Scandinavian chape right
There are other Viking references in the area, including an intriguing mention of Danegeld (tax to pay tribute to or fight against Viking incursion) in 1135 when Walter Croc of Hazelbury granted a mill to Farleigh Priory free and quit of everything as free alms, except the scutage of a knight and so much Danegeld as is due from the mill.[1] It is considered that Danegeld was a general reference to land tax as Scandinavian influence and terminology became general throughout England.
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Strap Ends
Strap ends are by far the most common early medieval finds, presumably because the straps regularly broke. Over the last three decades there have been 120 early medieval strap ends recorded in Wiltshire - to put that into perspective five a year on average. The Viking tongue shaped strap end is really the odd one out; normally associated with Viking raiders and none previously found south of Lincolnshire. Could it be associated with Viking raids from Ireland in our area? The Winchester style is also odd. I cannot find one anywhere that is made of such 'hard' bronze and with dot decoration over the whole surface. They are normally rather plain and made of soft coppery bronze. The darker Trewiddle strap end seems to be a similar bronze and the British Museum sometimes refer to this as Viking. Right: Viking tongue-shaped strap end made of copper alloy dated c850-1000 AD |
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Above Left: Winchester-style strap end made of copper alloy dated c950-1100 AD and
Above Right: Two Trewiddle-style strap ends made of copper alloy dated c800-1000 AD[2]
Below: Silver Trewiddle style strap end dated to 800-900 AD and currently in the British Museum
Above Right: Two Trewiddle-style strap ends made of copper alloy dated c800-1000 AD[2]
Below: Silver Trewiddle style strap end dated to 800-900 AD and currently in the British Museum
Silver strap ends are a bit rarer, there have been eight in total recorded in Wiltshire in the last three decades. The British Museum still have it and have declared it as treasure.
Medieval Mounts
The Mercian style 'animal art' mount is not a common find. Dr Leahy, head of the British Museum Early Medieval department, has examined this artefact and designated it a find of County Importance. Over the last three decades, there have been 170 early medieval mounts found in England, most in Norfolk, Suffolk, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Hampshire. Five mounts have been found in Wiltshire, this one being the only chip carved Mercian gilded example. Dr Leahy is convinced this has been cut from a larger artefact but does not indicate what this might have been.
The Mercian style 'animal art' mount is not a common find. Dr Leahy, head of the British Museum Early Medieval department, has examined this artefact and designated it a find of County Importance. Over the last three decades, there have been 170 early medieval mounts found in England, most in Norfolk, Suffolk, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Hampshire. Five mounts have been found in Wiltshire, this one being the only chip carved Mercian gilded example. Dr Leahy is convinced this has been cut from a larger artefact but does not indicate what this might have been.
Mercian-style mount, chip-carved copper alloy, gilded, dated to the years c600-700
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The Ringerike style fragment of a mount or brooch (below) is exceptional and almost impossible to research, as it is so unusual.
It is definitely Ringerike, so representing the Anglo Scandinavian-style and dated to 1000 to 1075. Needless to say, it is unique
in Wiltshire. It was cast, then carved, and finally gilded.
It is definitely Ringerike, so representing the Anglo Scandinavian-style and dated to 1000 to 1075. Needless to say, it is unique
in Wiltshire. It was cast, then carved, and finally gilded.
Ringerike style mount or possibly brooch fragment in Anglo Scandinavian style dated c1000-1075
Domestic Items
No cooking items have been found at Hazelbury but there are several personal items which may relate to domestic use. The item below left is a re-used Roman coin, a sestertius of the empress Faustina (161-175 AD). It has been made into an amulet (good luck charm) in the post-Roman period from c475-650. There are no similar amulets recorded in Wiltshire and only 18 in the UK. Amulets are typically associated with female graves, although a couple are recorded outside a grave. The grave ones are usually accompanied by metal beads which this one was not.
The fragment of Saxon tweezers is dated to 700-850 AD and they are typical grave goods. The tweezers are decorated in a ring-and-dot style and made of a copper alloy. There are again none recorded in Wiltshire but several in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Yorkshire.
No cooking items have been found at Hazelbury but there are several personal items which may relate to domestic use. The item below left is a re-used Roman coin, a sestertius of the empress Faustina (161-175 AD). It has been made into an amulet (good luck charm) in the post-Roman period from c475-650. There are no similar amulets recorded in Wiltshire and only 18 in the UK. Amulets are typically associated with female graves, although a couple are recorded outside a grave. The grave ones are usually accompanied by metal beads which this one was not.
The fragment of Saxon tweezers is dated to 700-850 AD and they are typical grave goods. The tweezers are decorated in a ring-and-dot style and made of a copper alloy. There are again none recorded in Wiltshire but several in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Yorkshire.
Below Left: Re-used Roman coin, made into an amulet
Below Right: Fragment of a tweezer and is believed to date from 700 to 850 AD.
Below Right: Fragment of a tweezer and is believed to date from 700 to 850 AD.
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Hooked Tags
Hooked tags were used for fastening leg wraps. The larger one is the earliest (600-800), the smaller ones are usually later (700-1100). There have been some 44 recorded in Wiltshire in the last three decades.
Hooked tags were used for fastening leg wraps. The larger one is the earliest (600-800), the smaller ones are usually later (700-1100). There have been some 44 recorded in Wiltshire in the last three decades.
Above: Four hooked tags
Conclusion
The first documentary reference to Hazelbury is in the Charter of 1001 AD, defining the boundaries of Bradford-on-Avon,
"(go) forth along his (Alfgares) boundary until it comes to the King’s boundary at Heselberi; from here it goes forth along the King’s boundary until it comes to Alfgares boundary at Attenwrthe (Atworth). This does not confirm if Hazelbury was the name of a location or the location of a residence. Because of Steven’s exceptional archaeological finds in the area, we can suggest a continuous settlement of early medieval Hazelbury.
The first documentary reference to Hazelbury is in the Charter of 1001 AD, defining the boundaries of Bradford-on-Avon,
"(go) forth along his (Alfgares) boundary until it comes to the King’s boundary at Heselberi; from here it goes forth along the King’s boundary until it comes to Alfgares boundary at Attenwrthe (Atworth). This does not confirm if Hazelbury was the name of a location or the location of a residence. Because of Steven’s exceptional archaeological finds in the area, we can suggest a continuous settlement of early medieval Hazelbury.
References
[1] Frank Stenton, The First Century of English Feudalism, p.185
[2] The Trewiddle-style was named after the Cornish village where the style was first identified.
[1] Frank Stenton, The First Century of English Feudalism, p.185
[2] The Trewiddle-style was named after the Cornish village where the style was first identified.