Monument record MDO2364 - South Street gas main, Sherborne (1931); hard surface

When Sherborne Gas Co. laid a new main opposite the then Council Offices in 1931, they uncovered a hard surface, 3ft 6ins below the present road, on which was found a considerable quantity of bones, nails, etc. Amongst the debris was a possible Roman razor handle

‘When Sherborne Gas Co. laid a new main opposite the then Council Offices in 1931, they uncovered a hard surface, 3ft 6ins below the present road, on which was found a considerable quantity of bones, nails, etc. Amongst the debris was a brass clip(?) which I took to be medieval, as the condition was as good as the day it was in use.’

It is however, similar to Roman razor handles recorded in the Colchester Museum report (April, 1937-March, 1944, page 31, plate IV, nos. 2,3 and 4).

‘The Sherborne example is exactly similar in decoration and other details, but has in addition the figure XXIIII roughly inscribed on the back.’ (1)

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1959, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1958, 97-98 (Serial). SDO58.

<1> Bean, C E, 1958, South Street, Sherborne; razor-handle (?); Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, p.97-8 (Article in serial). SDO10285.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 1:09PM