Find Spot record MDO44288 - Late Bronze Age metalwork hoard, Thorney Down, Sixpenny Handley

A Late Bronze Age hoard comprising 7 socketed bronze axes, four of them each containing a bronze socketed gouge (although one source mentions five gouges). The hoard was acquired by Dorset County Museum in 1952, having previously belonged to the Reverend E R Turing-Bruce. Reportedly found on Thorney Down, though the date and exact location of discovery are unknown.

Acquired by Dorchester Museum in 1952 - a hoard of LBA socketed axes and gouges of bronze, supposed to have been found in the neighbourhood of HANDLEY. DCM No 1952.36. This hoard had belonged to the late Rev E R. TURING-BRUCE of HANDLEY and latterly VERWOOD. <1>

THORNEY DOWN. Seven socketed axe heads have been ploughed up in the same place. Four contained socketed gouges packed in clay.
A - unfinished socketed axe decorated with two lines on one side and three on the other. Very light casting. Contained socketed gouge. Bronze. L4.'W.1.9' W (socket)1.1.'
B - as 'A' with two lines on each face. L.3.7'.W.1.9'.W(socket)1.2'
C - Gouge. Bronze L.2.2' W.5'.W.(socket).6'. Unfinished.
D. Gouge socketed. unfinished. Bronze. L.2.5'.W.5'.W(socket)6' Dorset Co Museum Nos 1933/14/1-4.2
Remaining portion of hoard acquired by Dorset Co Museum. 3 socketed axeheads with loop. 2 of them broken at the mouth. 1 socketed axehead with loop hole on one side of the blade. 1 socketed axehead half of blade only.3 gouges 2 with edges sharpened and one with edge unsharpened. No 1952.36. <1-3>

A travelling merchants hoard in all probability. There were five, not four, gouges. I do not know the site of the find. <4>

All people living in the vicinity were questioned about the finds and about the location of THORNEY DOWN. The only information obtained was that THORNEY DOWN was somewhere in the region of THORNEY DOWN FARM. Tithe maps were consulted but proved to be of no assistance. <5>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1953, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1952 (Serial). SDO52.

<2> Drew, C D, Colonel Drew's Index, Dorset County Museum (Index). SDO18316.

<3> Dorset County Museum, Dorset County Museum Accessions Book (Unpublished document). SWX1315.

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 03-FEB-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4.1> Drew, Lt Col C D, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: (Lt Col C D Drew. Curator, Dorset County Museum, Dorchester), 3.2.54 (Verbal communication). SWX2099.

<5> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 28-APR-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209774 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2022 4:28PM