Metal Detecting Report (Mathew Morris MA ACIFA)

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A metal-detector survey of the Parish Field, Park Street, Market Bosworth, Leicestershire (SK 40790 03060) – Interim Report

Mathew Morris

As part of the Bosworth Links Big Dig on the weekend of 22-23 July 2017 a metal detector survey was carried out at the Parish Field, Park Street, Market Bosworth, Leicestershire (SK 40790 03060).

The field, a trapezoid area covering c.0.32 hectares, is situated on the eastern side of the town, between Park Street to the north and Rectory Lane to the south. Houses and a bowling green form its western boundary, whilst a memorial garden is to the east. At its maximum north/south extent, along its western edge, it is c.98m, narrowing to c.48m to the east, whilst east/west it is c.45m wide. Today the field is managed grassland. It has never been metal detected before.

Since the 1930s, the Parish Field has been a public field owned by the Parish Council, with whose permission this survey was undertaken. Before this, historic maps dating back to the mid-19th century indicate that it was part of Bosworth Park, at times open parkland and at times tree-covered. However, Toby Mathews’ survey of the manor of Bosworth in 1592 suggests that this area may have originally been occupied by a farmstead belonging to the Parsonage, under the tenancy of a Thomas Whitehead in the late 16th century. A test-pit dug in the north-western corner of the field (TP6), uncovered a possible cobbled surface and wall, alongside evidence of occupation dating to between the 12th and 17th/18th century.

The survey was carried out by metal detectorists David Neave, Edward Robinson, and Carlo Camposano. Post excavation cleaning, identification and analysis was done by Mathew Morris of University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), who compiled this interim report.

Surface finds (i.e. unburied) were retrieved but not located (Table 1). These included 45 coins, a set of keys and numerous pieces of refuse (i.e. metal from food and drink packaging). The coins were all postdecimalisation (15 February 1971) and ranged in date from 1971 to 2015. They amounted to a value of £15.11.

Table 1: Catalogue of surface finds from the Parish Field metal detector survey

All below surface finds (i.e. buried in the ground) were recovered, individually bagged with a unique find number (MD ##), given a measurement of their depth below ground level, and a 10-figure grid reference tied to the National Grid with a handheld GPS (with an accuracy of 2-4m) – Table 2.

For analysis, each find was also assigned a spit number, Spit 1 being finds from the top 0.1m of ground (the turf), Spit 2 being finds from 0.1-0.2m below the ground (the topsoil), and so on. So far, no finds have been found below c.0.2m but the survey is yet to be completed.

Finds were plotted on a map of the Parish Field, by spit and find type – Figure 1. The coins were also plotted separately, by period – Figure 2. Photographs of select finds can be viewed in Figure 3-Figure 8. Statistical/stratigraphical analysis of the finds assemblage will be carried out at a later date, once the survey is completed.

Mathew Morris MA ACIfA

Project Officer

Archaeological Services (ULAS)

University of Leicester

University Road

Leicester LE1 7RH

Tel: 0116 252 2848

Fax: 0116 252 2614

Email: mlm9@leicester.ac.uk

Current draft 13/01/2018

Figure 1: Plan showing the distribution of metal detecting finds from the Parish Field, Market Bosworth – by spit and

find type.                                                                 

Figure 2: Plan showing the distribution of coins from the Parish Field, Market Bosworth – by period.

Figure 3: MD1 – a brass cartridge case, base stamped ‘KYNOCH GROUSE EJECTOR NO 12 PATENT NO 2090’.

Figure 4: Left – MD21 – an undecorated brass cylindrical petrol lighter; Right – MD29 – a Cu alloy ‘shield-shaped’ fitting with moulded openwork plate, probably post-medieval.

Figure 5:MD31 – a Sterling silver ring with amethyst.

Figure 6: Left – MD35a – a metal toy figure; Right – MD37 – a lead toy plane.

Figure 7: MD39a – a 1649-60 Commonwealth Silver Penny, altered with pierced hole. Left: OBV. shield of St George in wreath of palm & laurel; Right: REV. joined shields of St George & Ireland with value mark I above.

Figure 8: MD76 – a Cu alloy square token with hole central on one side. The obverse is inscribed with the biblical quote ‘I AM THE LORD, [I] CHANGE NOT. MAL [3:6]’ and the reverse ‘WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME. GAL 2:20’.

Table 2: Catalogue of below surface finds from the Parish Field metal detector survey