BONE REMAINS: Some 32 pieces of bone including rib can be attributed to domestic cattle (BOVID) and a further 18 are from sheep (OVIS). Eleven small bones are from rabbit while a further three are thought to have come from fowl. 48 pieces of small splintered or broken bone are unidentifiable.
SHELL: Several oyster shells were encountered throughout the infill and even in the clay footings, mostly these were very small and in the region of 1½ inches across. The largest being 2¾ inches. Two garden snails and a rams horn snail were found along with the remains of three hazel nut shells during the removal of the soil.
SMALL FINDS: Four clay pipe stems. Two small buttons, one with signs of deterioration. A small piece of mother-of-pearl with a rivet hole possibly from a small knife.
METAL: Some iron remains were found in the infill and mostly these were nails and heavily corroded. At least four of the nails had been clenched over and it would appear that these were of square section with domed heads.
There were also four small pieces of brass or copper, two being small rectangular plate forms, another being a small cut bent strip, with the fourth being a small sectional piece or squared rod.
A small heart shaped mount with a raised decorative pattern in the opposite comer has evidence of a small fixing stud or pin in the centre possibly for mounting on leather or wood. There is also a suggestion that the item may once have been silvered. C 1800.
The Society is most grateful to John Stannard for providing the opportunity to test the floor for dateable material and also for providing a lighting source for us to work with.
Thanks also due to Ron Ashman and Adrian Charlton who carefully went through all the content in a somewhat confined area, ideally I would have liked to have involved more people but the very restricted space and the presence of Acrows supporting the ceiling above may well have caused problems.
All the discoveries made at the School House have been washed and cleaned and have now been handed back to Mr Stannard for possible inclusion in displays at the School when finally completed sometime in the New Year.
Paul Durbidge November 1999