Find Spot record MDO6687 - Post-medieval coin hoard, Upwey, Weymouth

A hoard to 279 coins ranging from Philip and Mary to Charles II was found in 1949 during demolition of East Farm Cottage and declared Treasure Trove at inquest. Some of the coins were acquired by the Dorset Museum.

279 silver 17th century coins were found in the chimney of a cottage which was being dismantled at Upwey recently. They were declared Treasure Trove. <1>

SZ66058550, similar information. The coins found during the demolition of East Hill Farm Cottage are all of the Tower mint and range from Philip and Mary to Charles II, but there are no Commonwealth coins. <2>

(SY 66048549) "I found the coins about 1949-50 in a recess large enough to hold 6 men in the chimney. The coins were in a coat sleeve which had 3 silver buttons on it and they rested on a shelf in the recess. Dorset County Museum has four of the coins, Dr Beton of Waddon Lodge - the house built on the site - has several of them and I had the remainder but I have given some away. The find site was in the centre west wall of the house". The coins were seen in Mr Clark's possession. Dr Beton could not be contacted. The find site is covered by a garden,and Waddon Lodge has been built a few metres to the north of it. <3>

<1> British Archaeological Association, 1950, Bulletin, 1 (Serial). SDO20289.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1951, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1950, 91 (Serial). SDO50.

‘In February (1949) a hoard of 279 silver coins, declared treasure trove at a subsequent inquest, was found at Upwey near Weymouth, during the demolition of East Hill Farm Cottage (SY 66058550), where a doctors house is now being built from the old materials…. (The coins were found in rubble from the old chimney about 12 ft above floor level)... They appear to have been wrapped in brown paper and before disturbance may have been in a bag or piece of cloth from an old garment which was found in the same place.
The coins, which are all of the Tower mint range from Philip and Mary to Charles II evidently a royalist’s collection as Commonwealth issues are absent. The date of concealment is uncertain because although the coins of Charles II are confined to the first years of the Restoration, they are fairly worn. Some of the coins have been acquired by the museum.’

<2.1> Royal Numismatic Society, 1949, Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society, 261-2 (Serial). SDO18970.

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 03-AUG-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<3.1> Clark, Mr, Oral : Mr Clark, The Masons Arms, Upwey (Verbal communication). SDO20288.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452025 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 3:39PM