Find Spot record MDO7493 - Roman shale table leg, Norden Farm, Corfe Castle

Part of a Roman table leg carved from shale was found in 1938 near clay workings at Norden Farm. The upper half of a fine shale table leg carved with the lion-like animal head with the addition of curved horns branching from a single stem.

A Roman shale table-leg, carved in the shape of an animal-head, was discovered in 1938 in the course of working
open-cast for clay in Four Acres Field, Norden Clay works, Corfe Castle. (Norden Clay Works sited at SY 959827). <1>

The upper half of a fine shale table leg (1939.54.1) carved with the lion like animal head with the addition of curved horns branching from a single stem. This is described by Miss J Liversidge in Antiquaries Journal, xxxi (1951) pp193-4. This is thought to be a native imitation in shale of a well-known classical type of domestic three-legged table. This leg was found in 1938 in new open cast clay workings at the base of West Hill, in the south-west corner of Four Acres Field, and from a depth of 12 feet ‘beneath undisturbed clay in the top of the “coal” (black, unsuitable clay with bands of lignite’. This location has been questioned and is not confirmed. <2>

The site where the table-leg was found was pointed out by Mr. F Tubbs and was surveyed at SY 95018260. It was said to have been found at a depth of 20ft in the clay. Now in Dorchester museum. <3>

SY 95068257. Romano-British shale table-leg from a clay pit near Hill Coppices. <4>

<1> Liversidge, J E A, 1951, A Roman shale table-leg from Dorset, The Antiquaries Journal 31 (3-4), 193-194 (Article in serial). SDO19659.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1952, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1951, 88-89 (Serial). SDO51.

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 17-JUL-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<3.1> Tubbs, F, Mr F Tubbs (Foreman) Norden Clay Works (Verbal communication). SDO19660.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 596 (Monograph). SDO150.

<5> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 61 (Index). SDO147.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456813 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 16 2023 7:29PM