Archaeology in Bourne

Archaeology

There have been many finds over the years that identify Bourne with its historic past and artefacts uncovered relate to Roman, Norman and Saxon times. Such objects are now on display in the museums at Stamford and Lincoln.

One of the most important was a fragment of funerary sculpture representing the head of a Norman knight clad in a helmet and chain and resting on a pillow. It was unearthed in January 1967 by a local builder, Mr Len Pick, during demolition work for extensions to the rear of the former Crown Hotel in West Street, now known as Crown Walk. A young archaeologist in the town, policeman's son Nigel Kerr, aged 13, was the first to recognise the importance of the find and as a result, other experts were called in to make a detailed examination.

The style of costume was similar to that worn by the figures represented in the Bayeux Tapestry and the stone from which the effigy was carved was identified as coming from Caen in Normandy, France. Mr Lawrence Tebbutt, antiquarian and curator of the Stamford Museum, who was called in to verify the discovery, said that there was a reference to stone being brought from Caen to Bourne in the 1866 book Hereward the Wake by Charles Kingsley. Miss Christine Mahany, director of the Stamford Archaeological Research Committee, confirmed the identification. "The monument may have been destroyed at the time of the dissolution [of the monasteries by Henry VIII between 1535 and 1540]. Some initials carved on the pillow beneath the knight's head appear to be in the late Tudor style of writing, indicating that it was still in situ then, but the fact that there are no later graffiti would seem to suggest that it was shortly afterwards broken up and used as building stone."

It is known that similar heads had been incorporated into the structure of the old Horse and Groom public house in West Street but the building was demolished over a century ago and it is not known what happened to them.

Further historic discoveries of pottery were found by Nigel Kerr during excavations for the Woolworths store in North Street during January 1967. The artefacts unearthed here were mainly from the 13th century and included the top of a jug with part of the handle and spout and made to a rare design, which probably originated from a kiln in Bourne. Miss Mahany said that these discoveries were also indicative of the trade routes between Stamford and Bourne and the Wash during the mediaeval period. This site also yielded three beads of Saxon origin and part of a pewter spoon from the underlying strata known as the mediaeval layer.

Work on the site of the Woolworths store in North Street also revealed the existence of a mediaeval well during excavations the following February. It was discovered when the soil over it suddenly gave way, revealing a shaft of 4 ft. 6 in. in diameter and about 12 ft. deep, dry-walled in a circular fashion with an upper series of brick courses, probably added during the 19th century. The well was three quarters full of water which was pumped out and the cavity filled in without the possibility of excavations at the bottom to discover any relics from the past.

It was found within 75 yards of the old town well situated outside the Angel Hotel that was discovered in 1960 during the laying of new sewage pipes in North Street, and dating back 700 years. This water source was found when a long deep trench was dug in the vicinity to accommodate drainage pipes and is believed to have been of 14th or 15th century origin. Old prints and photographs of the Market Place clearly show the street pump that was installed over this well as a public source of water supplies. This well was also probably filled with water as a result of seepage caused by the high water table known to exist in Bourne, a factor evident until recent years when the rate of mechanical pumping was stepped up to meet the growing demand for the public supply and for agricultural irrigation.

See also The town's sewerage system

Other interesting discoveries were made when two cottages in West Street were being converted for use as the Bourne and District Working Men's Conservative Club in the summer of 1888. During the course of the alterations, a number of relics were unearthed, among them a Roman coin and an ancient hunting knife with an elaborately carved handle that had been preserved in an excellent state. Both were handed over to Mr Robert Mason Mills, head of the town's thriving aerated water business and a collector of such artefacts whose passion was so well known that workmen always called him in whenever they came across something old and interesting, knowing that they would be suitably rewarded. Most of the items he collected during his lifetime are believed to have been passed on to local museums either during his lifetime or after his death.

In March 1892, a small and beautifully shaped Roman urn was discovered in the old river bed at Dyke by Mr William Ash, a local farmer. Others of a similar shape and quality were also found but unfortunately destroyed before their importance became apparent. The Stamford Mercury reminded its readers: "As it is well known, this interesting hamlet derives its name from the Roman waterway the Car Dyke, once navigable but now, through years of neglect, an insignificant stream." The urn was put on display at the Board School in Star Lane [now Abbey Road] but it is not known what happened to it after that.

Several coins have also been discovered relating to our historic past, perhaps the most important find being during the demolition of the old Town Hall in the market place in the spring of 1821. A purse containing these fourteen gold coins from the reigns of Henry VIII, Elizabeth, James I and Charles I, together with three rings of pure gold, were later presented to the Marquess of Exeter as treasure trove, he being the Lord of the Manor of Bourne, during the ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the new Town Hall on Monday 30th April that year.

In March 1894, a small silver coin from the reign of Henry V (1413-1422) was unearthed in a garden in Eastgate and two years later, in November 1896, a silver penny was found in a garden in North Road and identified by the British Museum as being from the reign of Henry I (1100-1135). It carried the title and bust of the Norman sovereign on one side while the other contained a cross and the inscription SIERLIG.ON.LVND, being the name of the man who struck the coin. The museum had a similar example in its display but this was slightly different and was therefore sold to them for the national collection where it remains on display to this day.

Field investigation undertaken by Lincolnshire archaeologists in 1998 during excavations for a pipeline between Bourne and Pinchbeck indicated Neolithic and Bronze age sites although Roman remains were more widespread with signs of several settlements along the course of the route which crossed the Car Dyke. One particular location within an apparently rectangular enclosure produced artefacts dating it from the first to the third centuries AD although some prehistoric pottery and flints suggested earlier activity in the area. The various finds also indicated a Roman settlement in fenland with some of the enclosure ditches holding water, the economic basis being a mixed agricultural regime with wheat and barley cultivation and sheep and cattle rearing, supplemented by hunting deer and fox. During these excavations, the remains of an elderly women (pictured above) who had suffered a stab wound were unearthed.

In November 2002, the gold decorated pommel from a Saxon sword dating from the 6th century was unearthed in a field at Rippingale by a man using a metal detector. It is now in the British Museum. Experts described it as a high status artefact that would have fitted on the top of the sword handle and the design contains animal heads on either side. "It is a highly individual item", explained museum curator Angela Evans. "The closest local parallel can be found on a 6th century girdle hangar found at Scarby in Lincolnshire and which is also in the museum."

In the summer of 2010, archaeologists were allowed to excavate land on the former factory site in South Road, Bourne, due to be developed as a Tesco supermarket and the dig was carried out prior to the start of construction work. The survey was carried out by a team from AOC Archaeology and completed in September and the final report indicated evidence of habitation from prehistoric, Roman and mediaeval times. The site was chosen because of its close proximity to the Car Dyke which runs through the locality and the dig revealed a network of boundary ditches and rubbish pits which were believed to be more than 2,000 years old. Animal bones, fragments of prehistoric pottery and flint knapping waste were also found. Team spokesman Melissa Melikian said: "One pit was found to contain numerous cow bones which suggest that joints of meat were being prepared on site. The excavation evidence indicates that prehistoric people were once active in the Bourne area. There is also evidence of Roman and mediaeval activity, again in the form of pits and ditches." All of the artefacts recovered will be given to a museum once assessment is complete.

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