seen entrenchments and caves,’1
as in the ancient wood of "Chesmunds," where he supposes the
Saxon inhabitants to have taken refuge from the Danes.
At the junction of the ferry and the ‘Dunstrete’ the
south-western promontory of the island, was the ‘Dun,’ or Down of Sarr,
an important and central position, commanding the country for miles
around: and on this spot is the Cemetery into which we have been making
researches, and which I proceed to describe.
Although, as will be seen, it has proved to be one of our
richest and most interesting Anglo-Saxon burying-places, it appears to
have escaped the notice of all Kentish antiquaries. Bryan Faussett,
Douglas, Stukely, and Mortimer, make no mention of it; Mr. Wright omits it
from his Map; and the revelations of Ozingell give no hint of the
neighbouring treasures at Sarr. Certain Saxon relics, however, were
reported to have been found here some years since, such as a bronze stoup,
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drinking-glass, and a fine
fibula. But the attention of our Society was first called to this spot
as a Saxon cemetery by the discovery made, during works on the property
of Mr. Holman, at Sarr windmill, in July, 1860, of a remarkably fine
fibula, some gold coins, a bronze bowl, and other articles of great
interest. These relics, which are described by Mr. C. Roach Smith, in
the fourth volume of ‘Archaeologia Cantiana,’ were purchased by the
British Museum, and our Society at once opened negotiations for further
researches on the land immediately adjoining, the property of the
Marquess Conyngham. The noble owner kindly gave the required permission,
but some delay was inevitable, on account of the injury, which
would be caused to the seed crop then on the land. This year, however,
in the month of August, Mr. Swinford, Lord Conyngham’s tenant, in a
most courteous manner gave to the writer of
1 History of Thanet, p. 25. |