Bottom Shelf Case Contents

  • Bronze Patera Bowl

Amber Beads

5th – 8th Century AD

Amber

Necklace of 12 amber beads, of various shapes and sizes. Amber was likely imported from the Baltic, and would have been expensive to purchase; these beads would have belonged to someone very wealthy.

Found at Eastry, Kent, by Mr. Irby. Presented to the museum by Dr. W.G. Urry
Reference: CANCM:7509
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Beads

5th – 8th Century AD

Glass and stone

Necklace containing four cylindrical (bugle) beads and what were originally quadruple pearl-like beads, some of which have since separated into single, double and triple beads.

Found at Eastry, Kent by Mr. Irby. Presented to the museum by Dr. W.G. Urry
Reference: CANCM:7511
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Bird Brooch

5th-8th Century AD

Gilded Copper Alloy

Bird shaped brooch of a Frankish type, with traces of gilt on the exterior.

Found at Eastry, Kent in 1792. Presented to the museum by Dr. W.G. Urry after a loan from Mr Irby
Reference: CANCM:7496.
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Bronze Patera Bowl

7th Century AD

Copper Alloy

‘Coptic bowl’. Bowls of this type have been found in several other Anglo-Saxon cemetaries in Kent. They were made in Egypt, and probably were imported from Alexandria in the seventh century AD, arriving to Britain via the river Rhine.
Thought to be from Wickhambreaux (1886).

Bequeathed by Lt. Col Copeland.
Reference: CANCM:1107
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Brooch

5th – 8th Century AD

Silver Gilt

Silver-gilt brooch with garnet and greenstone.

Found at Eastry, Kent in 1792. Presented to the museum by Dr. W.G. Urry after a loan from Mr Irby
Reference: CANCM:7497
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Brooch

5th – 8th Century AD

Copper-Alloy

Square brooch set with garnets at each corner.

Found at Mersham, Kent in 1828.
Reference: CANCM:2631
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Brooch

5th – 8th Century AD

Copper-Alloy

Jeweled brooch of Jutish type, set with garnets.

Found at Mersham, Kent in 1828.
Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Brooch

5th – 8th Century AD

Copper-Alloy

Circular brooch set with garnets, one is missing.

Found at Merhsam, Kent in 1828
Reference: CANCM:2632
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Bucket

Bucket

5th – 8th Century AD

Copper Alloy

Bucket/vat with handle, fragments inside.

Reference: CANCM:1113
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Buckle

5th – 8th Century AD

Copper Alloy

Small bronze buckle complete with tongue. The buckle loop is decorated with groups of incised lines and part of the buckle plate remains.

Found at Eastry, Kent in 1792. Presented to the museum by Dr. W.G. Urry after a loan from Mr Irby
Reference: CANCM:7501
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Coin

Eighth Century AD

Silver

Electroform copy of an Anglo-Saxon coin - the original is in the British Museum. This coin was minted in around 765AD for Ecgberht II, who ruled from 765 to 779. Not much is known about Ecgberht aside from his coins and the small number of charters in which he is mentioned; he was likely installed by Offa as a king. Offa then attempted to rule Kent more directly in 776, which prompted a rebellion under Ecgberht. Kent seems to have remained independent for several years afterwards, which suggests it was successful.

Reference: CANCM:10446
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Coin

Coin

Silver

Coin minted for Archbishop Æthelheard, who was enthroned in 793. It bears the names of both the archbishop and the King. King Offa gave the Archbishops of Canterbury the right to mint their own coins, and this continued into the reign of King henry VIII.
Found by Mr David Hunt at Otford, Kent. Acquired by the Landowner with grant-aid from the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant fund, and generous contributions from Mr Hunt and from a Kent charitable trust through the friends of Canterbury Museums.

Reference: CANCM:2010.69
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Copper Alloy Bindings from a bucket

Copper Alloy Bindings from a bucket

5th – 8th Century AD

Copper Alloy

Bronze bindings and handle of an Anglo-Saxon bucket mounted on a modern wooden copy by the London Institute of Archaeology.

Reference: CANCM:8529
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Crystal Sphere

Crystal Sphere

5th – 8th Century AD

Crystal

Large crystal ball without the suspender. The purpose of Anglo Saxon crystal balls is unclear: they may have been used as a magnifying glass, or perhaps even had a magical or ritual use. They are often found in the graves of women next to silver spoons.

Reference: CANCM:2616
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Crystal Sphere

Crystal Sphere

5th – 8th Century AD

Crystal

Large crystal ball without the suspender. The purpose of Anglo Saxon crystal balls is unclear: they may have been used as a magnifying glass, or perhaps even had a magical or ritual use. They are often found in the graves of women next to silver spoons.

Found at Mersham, Kent in 1828.
Reference: CANCM:2616
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Cup

Cup

Fifth to 6th Century AD

Ceramic

Ceramic mug in a brownish ware. This cup was handmade, and would have been burnished (rubbed at speed with a leather cloth) to made it more watertight.

Found in the Marlowe Car Park, 1982. Presented by Canterbury Archaeological Trust.
Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Gilt Pin1

Gilt Pin1

5th – 8th Century AD

Copper Alloy

A highly ornamented, fine gilded, bronze pin.

Found at Guilton, Ash, Kent by Mr. Kingsford. Given to the museum by Mr J. Brent.
Reference: CANCM: 2714
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Gilt Pin1

Gilt Pin1

5th – 8th Century AD

Copper Alloy

A highly ornamented, fine gilded, bronze pin.

Found at Guilton, Ash, Kent by Mr. Kingsford. Given to the museum by Mr J. Brent.
Reference: CANCM: 2714
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Girdle-Hanger

Girdle-Hanger

5th – 8th Century AD

Copper Alloy

Bronze girdle-hanger. This type of object, often found in Anglo Saxon women’s graves, imitates a key. It has been suggested that girdle-hangers symbolise that women controlled access to the home.

Found at Eastry, Kent in 1792. Presented to the museum by Dr. W.G. Urry after a loan from Mr Irby
Reference: CANCM:7500
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Glass jar

Glass jar

5th – 8th Century AD

Glass

Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Mount

5th – 8th Century AD

Copper Alloy

Bronze mount, partly gilded, with an animal design.

Found at Guilton, Kent. 1771
Reference: CANCM:2637
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Rune Stone

Rune Stone

5th – 6th Century AD

Stone

Rune stone. One of the only two surviving pagan grave markers from the period. (The other is to the left of the case). They may have been made by invading Scandinavian warriors to commemorate comrades who fell in battle.

Found in Sandwich, Kent, UK. by Mr. W.H. Rolfe.
Reference: CANCM:1141
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Silver Ring

5th – 8th Century AD

Silver

Portion of silver twisted ring.

Found by Mr J. Brent.
Reference: CANCM:2229
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Small-Long Type Brooch

Small-Long Type Brooch

5th-6th Century AD

Copper Alloy

Copper alloy brooch with cup and dot decoration at head and foot. This type of brooch was generally worn in a pair.

Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Small-Long Type Brooch

Small-Long Type Brooch

5th-6th Century AD

Copper Alloy

Copper alloy brooch. This type of brooch was generally worn in a pair.

Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Spindle Whorl

Spindle Whorl

5th – 8th Century AD

Glass

Spindle whorl of very dark blue or green glass with inlaid white glass decoration. Anglo-Saxon Eastry appears to have been a place of some size and much importance. The Kings of Kent had a palace, and often held court there.

Found at Eastry, Kent by Mr. Irby. Presented to the museum by Dr.W.G. Urry.
Reference: CANCM:7503
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Square-Headed Brooch

Silver

Square-headed silver-gilt brooch.

Found at Eastry, Kent in 1792. Presented to the museum by Dr. W.G. Urry after a loan from Mr Irby
Reference: CANCM:7495
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Square-Headed Brooch

5th – 8th Century AD

Silver Gilt

Square-headed silver-gilt brooch with an undivided foot and a motif decorating footplate which shows rampant animals either side of the foot reaching up to the bow.

Found at Eastry, Kent in 1792. Presented to the museum by Dr. W.G. Urry after a loan from Mr Irby
Reference: CANCM:7494
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

The Bishop Liudhard Medalet

c. 590 AD

Gold

A electroform copy of the Bishop Liudhard Medalet, now in the World Museum Liverpool. The Medalet honours Queen Bertha’s chaplain and was probably created prior to St Augustine’s arrival in 597 AD.

Original excavated from St Martin’s Churchyard in 1844.
Reference: CANCM:10353
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

The Dragon Pendant

9th Century AD

Gold, Garnets

An animal-head pendant. It is made from a sheet of gold decorated with gold filigree and granules. One of the eye sockets is now empty, but the other has a deeply sunken garnet set in it. The decoration and style are similar to other pendants that date from the Ninth century, but the suspension loop at the back of the head is unique among Anglo Saxon finds.
Purchased with grant-aid from Arts Council England/Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund and the Headley Trust

Found by Mr Peter Thomas when metal detecting at Monkton, Kent in 2013.
Reference: CANCM:2016.14
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Two Glass Beakers

Two Glass Beakers

5th – 8th Century AD

Glass

Two glass beakers of yellow-green glass.

Donated by Mr. John Hewett.
Reference: Cancm:9934.2 + 3
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Two Glass Beakers

Two Glass Beakers

5th – 8th Century AD

Glass

Two glass beakers.

Found in Faversham, Kent, UK.
Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent

Top