Little Thetford .org

Dave Fletcher recently found two Roman objects in Little Thetford, a quern-stone and a spindle-whorl. See photographs. The quern is made from grey lava. Similar ones are noted in the Portable Antiquities Scheme as find number SF-82B87 and Bill Wyman in Suffolk. In his 2005 book Treasure Island – Britain’s History Uncovered Wyman records a Roman quern find whilst ‘field walking’ near his home in Suffolk (page VI). Quern stones were used for grinding wheat. A whorl was used for spinning.

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These photos from Phillip Randall show Little Thetford in the early 1900′s from or close to Barway.

Little Thetford ferry c. 1906 from Phillip Randall

Little Thetford pumping mill c. 1906 from Phillip Randall

In the ferry image, Naomi Randall and Alfred Dewsberry are in the boat; Mahala and Arthur Dewsberry are on the bank. Note how wide the river was and the pumping station with chimney.

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There have been various sightings of a Short-eared Owl in the village by Gill and Paul Norman and John Parish. We now have three owls in the village: Little Owl, Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl.

Edited highlights of the Friends of Little Thetford’s St George’s Church 2011 flower festival video.

View or download the video from here …

Photographs & video produced by Clive Hayward. If you do download the full video, consider offering a donation to the Friends of St George’s Church. Otherwise contact us to purchase a copy of the DVD.

A Little Thetford villager has shown us some finds obtained over the years from in and around his back garden. We have suggested to the villager that he should take a selection of these to the museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge or perhaps the Ely museum for a professional identification. In the meantime, if you can help identify one or more of these artefacts our villager would, we are sure, appreciate it. The villager does not wish to be named. However, should you wish to know who this is, please do ask using the comment form below.

EDIT April 2012: Richard Ashford tells us that “One of [the coins] looks like a Dutch Counting Token/Jeton which is a 1586-1635 Hans Krauwincel II Rose orb Jeton normally inscribed HANNS KRAVWINCKEL IN N minted in Nuremburg. Better picture and description can be found on the UKDFD Ref 12931”

Beads of various ages. We think the blue one may be Saxon?	Coins and spoon. Obverse	Coins and spoon. Reverse
Modern or older tunic buttons?	Lead curse?	Stone practise shot?
Tooth and bone from what animal?

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Grace Turnbull gave away some photos before she died last year.

See also our recent request for information.