Monument record MDO2665 - Burial site with late Celtic mirror, on the cliff west of Bridport harbour

Some years ago in a fall of cliff, just west of Bridport Harbour, a burial was disclosed together with a pot and metal object...a bronze mirror handle of Celtic type (1st. century A.D.) (a) Dr Bedford states that there were at least two skeletons in association with the pot - an Iron Age C bead-rim jar. He has the jaw bones, one of a muscular male, the other of an old woman with a copper stain on it. A whole lot of bronze objects were also found. The information and pot were obtained from a Mr Glenning of Bridport who cannot now be located. <1>

The siting is from two snapshots taken by Mr Sapsford of the cliff fall where the finds were made. <2>

The circular plate of the mirror is missing, but the groove into which it fitted and one of the rivets may be seen in the E.I.A. B case. No. 1934.8.1. <3>

Presented to The Museum by The Museum Council. (Dorset County Museum). <4>

No further information obtained during field investigation. <5>

Full report on the mirror and other finds. <6>

The find was made by Mr S Gluning (not Glenning) whose son says that the finds were all together, although there was no visible sign of a coffin. <7>

National Record of the Historic Environment, 450115 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<1> Drew, 1934, Letter, Col Drew to Dr T H Bedford of Gildersome (Unpublished document). SWX1311.

<1> Farrar, R A H, 1955, Letters and 6 Tracing (R.A.H. Farrar 31.3.55 and 4.4.55) (Unpublished document). SWX1312.

<2> Sir Cyril Fox, 1949, Celtic mirror handles in Britain, p28-29, Illus. Only Plate 3, fig. 1 (Article in serial). SWX1313.

<3> Display Card Dorset County Museum (Graphic material). SWX1314.

<4> Dorset County Museum, Dorset County Museum Accessions Book (Unpublished document). SWX1315.

<5> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F1 GCS 22-SEP-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<6> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1956, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1954, 90-94 (Serial). SDO54.

<7> Farrar, R A H, 1954, A Celtic Burial with Mirror-handle at West Bay, near Bridport. (Article in serial). SWX7316.

<8> Farrar, R A H (Compiler), 1959, Archaeological Notes and News for 1959: Miscellaneous Discoveries and Accessions. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 106 (Article in serial). SWX1285.

<9> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1966, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1965, 107 (Serial). SDO65.

‘The Celtic mirror burial at West Bay near Bridport. The pear-shaped bead rim of Brailsford’s Durotrigian type 7, accompanied by remains of a bronze mirror and figured in these Proceedings, Vol. 76 (1954), has been given to the County Museum by D. T. H. B. Bedford, through Mrs. O. M. Bedford of Gildersome, Leeds. The vessel (D.C.M. 1966.1) would now be described as hand-made, although doubtless built up with the help of a turntable. The site was further discussed in Proceedings, Vol. 81 (1959), p. 106).’

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:33PM