Summary : An Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery found and excavated at Valetta House (now Bradstow School) in 1910-11. Some 15 inhumations with accompanying grave goods were discovered. Two ring-ditches with 9 associated crouched burials, probably of Bronze Age date were also discovered, although later intepretations have also postulated an Iron Age date. Further excavations between 1970-4 located another 98 Saxon inhumations, including a nucleated group of warrior graves. Some of the graves had associated structures, one possibly a canopy support, and at least one was surrounded by the ditch of a ploughed-out barrow. It was thought that the cemetery had still not been fully excavated when the excavations were terminated. The cemetery started in the late 5th century, but was most intensively used in the period 600-800. Most of the graves were aligned East-West, although those on or near the central mound are sometimes tangential to it. There were twice as many male as female inhumations. Many of the graves had structural features, including post-holes, sockets, ledges and small ring ditches. Several of the graves appear to have been robbed soon after interment. Excavations in 2003 revealed further graves of the 7th century and also a feature which was either possibly a section of the barrow ditch noted previously, or a later quarry pit. |
More information : [TR 39456708] Anglo-Saxon burials found AD 1910 (NAT) (1) Anglo-Saxon Burial Ground (NR) (2) A Jutish cemetery, dated to c. A.D. 600, was uncovered during the making of a private roadway at Valetta House, Broadstairs, in 1910. In October 1911 nine more burials were found during the excavation of a Bronze Age ring-ditch [gr. TR 36 NE 13]. (3-6) On exhibition in Broadstairs Public Library, property of Broadstairs Historical Society, under a label "Valetta House" are 3 bronze bucket mounts, 2 bronze studs, a disc brooch, 7 sceattas and a fine claw-beaker. In Margate Public Library are a shield boss and handle from the same site. Valetta House is now an LCC school (The Bradstow Boarding School) and no further information was obtained. (7) TR 394670. Anglo Saxon inhumation cemetery found in 1910 in the grounds of Valetta House, Dumpton Park Drive. The graves were dug into the chalk subsoil 3 feet deep and mostly orientated west or north west. In 1911 Miss Bartrum's gardner noticed that grass did not grow well in a large circle on the playing field. Excavations were undertaken and two concentric circular trenches were found. Associated within the inner trench were 9 crouched burials which appeared to be Bronze Age, but were without grave goods and part of a cinerary urn of typical late BA form. A further 9 Anglo Saxon graves were found, 5 males, 2 females and 2 gender unknown. Finds are now in the British Museum (Natural History), RCS collection. (8) TR 394671. Excavation on the site of the Anglo Saxon cemetery investigated by H. Hurd in 1910-11 at Bradstow School continued from 1970-1974. A total number of 98 graves were uncovered including a nucleated group of warrior burials. One grave in this group contained, among other goods, a bronze bowl holding hazel nuts and fruit and in the mouth of the corpse, a Frankish gold tremissis of the late 6th century. Structural features were found in some graves, including one with four deep post-holes set cornerwise around the grave at a distance of c. 4 ft from it; they may have supported a canopy over the grave. One grave contained an intact glass claw beaker. Another grave was enclosed by the penannular ditch of a low ploughed out barrow. (9-12) Anglo Saxon glass claw beaker type 2b, dating to the 5th century from Braodstairs, is now in Broadstairs Museum. (13) Romano Saxon Pottery from Broadstairs. (14,15) Anglo Saxon pottery from Valetta House, Broadstairs. (16) TR 395671. Anglo Saxon sceattas recovered during the excavation of the cemetery at Valetta House (now school). (17) Additional bibliography - not consulted. (18,19) TR 393671 (sited to nearest 50m) Bronze Age and Anglo Saxon burials. Site no 125. (20) Anglo Saxon claw beaker of experimental type, found in Broadstairs is now in the Council Offices at Broadstairs. (14) TR 393761 (sic) Following the discovery on this site of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in 1910, excavations in 1911 discovered two concentric ditches, the inner one of V-section, the outer one of truncated V- section, 14m and 24m diameter approx. In and around the inner ditch 9 crouched burials of the Bronze Age period were found. 9 Anglo-Saxon burials were found here in 1970 on excavation by the British Museum. It is probably that other graves and Bronze Age barrows remain undetected. (21)
An evaluation carried out in 2003 at Bradstow School identified at least two further Anglo-Saxon graves, probably dating to the 7th century. It also revealed part of a large cut feature which may have been part of a barrow ditch noted by ealier excavators; however this was not totally clear and it may have been a later quarry pit. The online repoert also provides a good summary of what is known of the site to that date (2003-4), including mention of interpretation By O'Brien of two of the earlier crouched inhumations as being possibly Iron Age rather than Bronze Age. (22) |