NHER 2441 (Find Spot record) - Bronze Age torc or Viking bracelet

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Summary

A Bronze Age or Viking gold torc or bracelet was found at a post medieval brickworks in Downham Market in 1845 or 1846. The torc was melted down by a goldsmith. Some complete Roman pots may also have been found at the same brickyard.

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Location

Map sheet	TF60SW
Civil Parish	DOWNHAM MARKET, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full Description

Gold armilla or torc of two twisted wires, variously reported as having been found in a brickground on 2 December 1845, and in making the Lynn to Downham Railroad 1846. Sold to London goldsmith and melted down; weight 2 ozs. Two wires wreathed together form eye for the opening. Middle Bronze Age? C. Fox considers Viking. (S1) says Gold Ma II from female grave of period II with two others in bronze - of periods II & III in zone IIIa.
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

The confusion over the findspots is probably resolved by the fact that in 1845 to 1846 the railway was built across the edge of a brick yard at the above grid reference as shown on (S2).
E. Rose (NLA).

(S3) mentions 'several Roman urns found in a brickground at Downham'. Are these associated?
Information from [1].
E. Rose (NLA).

This must be the brickyard belonging to Rawlings in Bridge Street where imitation Bawsey tiles were made in 1844.
See (S4).
E. Rose (NLA), 17 January 2000.

Though this might also be NHER 13859.
E. Rose (NLA), 20 January 2003.

Associated Sources (15)

--- SNF768 Article in Serial: 1846. Proceedings of the Association. Journal of the British Archaeological Association. First Series Vol II pp 334-364. p 343.
--- SNF782 Article in Serial: Bulwer, J. 1847. Notice of a Gold Torque found in the Parish of Foulsham and of an Armilla dug up at Downham. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol I pp 231-238. p 235.
--- SNF4274 Documentary Source: Various. Drawings, engravings and etchings, including numerous portraits, maps, etc, collected by Dawson Turner to illustrate Blomefield's "History of Norfolk" 1810-1847. Add MS 23024-23052. Vol VII; pp 114-115 (Add MS 23030); Vol VIII; p 61 (Add MS 23031).
--- SNF49959 Illustration: Finds Illustrations.
--- SNF1141 Monograph: 1901. The Victoria History of Norfolk. The Victoria History of the Counties of England. Vol 1. pp 271, 276.
--- SNF47424 Publication: James (ED). 1999. The Annual.
--- SNF6587 Publication: Kersten, K.. 1936. Zur alteren Nordisschen Bronzezeit. form E8 p.54ff, p.131 and. form E8, p 54ff, p 131, xvii no. 3.
--- SNF87258 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Bronze Age. Downham Market.
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF57204 Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 60 SW 17.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1> SNF6427 Publication: Hovere. N.D.K.. Entry 14062.
<S2> SNF58668 Map: 1840. Downham Market Tithe Map.
<S3> SNF755 Publication: 1842. Collectanta Norfolciensis.
<S4> SNF1806 Article in Monograph: Sainty, J. E. 1935. Norfolk Prehistory. British Association for the Advancement of Science. Report of the Annual Meeting, 1935. Norwich, September 4-11. British Association for the Advancement of Science. Appendix pp 60-71. p 68.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (3)

Object Types (5)

BRACELET (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC?)
TORC (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC?)
POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BRACELET (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD?)
TORC (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD?)

Related NHER Records (0)

Find out more...(3)

Record last edited

Aug 19 2020 11:58PM