Roman Finds from Stanford Bury

In 1832 labourers digging ditches discovered burial vaults at Stanfordbury, the exact location being not now known. An excavation was carried out by local man Thomas Inskip. He asserted that the site was a Roman camp and even theorised that a pond called Oman Pond was where the Legionary and Auxiliary cavalry watered their horses! Inskip advertised his finds in a catalogue, mixed in with material he excavated from a burial in Shefford in 1829. Much of the material found, which is still extant, is in the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, although, like Inskip's catalogue, it is not now clear what came from Shefford and what from Stanford.

Thomas Inskip's catalogue of his finds at Shefford and Stanford Bury [AD1748] is as follows:

"Two dozen Red Paterrae, Samian Ware, of various sizes from ten inches diameter to the smallest-sized cup. Several of them mutilated, others cemented, and some quite perfect, ornamented and plain; many having the maker's name across quite legible.

One large Cinereal Urn, of peculiar shape, height 2 feet 8 inches.

One smaller-sized Brito-Roman, of unburnt earth, ornamented. Perfect.

One coarse Black Bottle. Perfect.

One large Amphora. Cemented.

One small Black Urn, ornamented with scroll work in high relief. Perfect.

Iron

One large Iron Camp Tripod, turning on a swivel, with chain and hooks descending from the centre, height 4 feet 4 inches. Perfect.

One large Iron Camp Fire Dog, representing a Stag's Head. A little mutilated.

One ditto more prefect, with the bar belonging, unique.

One Horse Shoe, with cross-bar. Perfect.

One Iron Chain, used to lead Animals to sacrifice. Perfect.

One Iron hammer, much oxydized. Perfect.

One small Roman Knife, used by the Priest; sacrificial. Perfect.

Two Spear Heads.

Two very curious Iron Implements, with grotesque faces, Silenus's or Momes. Nearly perfect.

Jet

Specimen of Lady's Armilla. Perfect.

Ivory

One Tibicinal Musical Instrument, in five joints, with finger holes. A most curious relic.

Brass

A very curious Brass Jug, with beautiful and highly ornamented handle, containing two Masks and Female Figures. Jug itself much corroded, but handle perfect.

A Brass Dish, with very curious ornamented handles representing a Lion's and a Ram's Head. Cemented together.

Two large Brass Fibulae, ornamented and gilt, probably used to fasten Military Habiliments. Nearly perfect.

Three Brass Implements, presumed of dress, nearly resembling in shape a common Jew's Harp. One perfect.

The Brass Hinge of a Roman Lady's Toilet Box, together with the two handles, two large Brass Rings, some ornamental Studs, and chased Brass-work; also a piece of the Wood of which the Box was formed. Hinge and Handles perfect.

Ladies' Brass Fibulae. Nearly perfect.

One Brass Celt.

A Brass Serpent. Perfect.

A very large Brass Button. Perrect.

Two Brass saucepans. Imperfect.

Glass

The bottom and part of the neck of a large Glass Urn, the handle of which, representing a Fish's Tail, is perfect. Very imperfect.

A beautiful Urn of Yellow Glass, radiated; of globular shape - no Anase. Perfect.

A most splendid specimen of a Blue Glass Jug, of exquisite shape and workmanship, probably a Simpulum. Cemented, but perfect in appearance.

A small Glass Funnel, of Greenish Hue. Cemented.

Another Funnel of elegant shape, somewhat larger, and finer Glass. Cemented.

A beautiful Urn of Violet-coloured Glass; of Grecian form, in pieces. Not yet cemented.

A beautiful Blue Glass Lachrymatory. Quite perfect.

A splendid Glass Bowl or Dish, 6 inches diameter, radiated very beautifully, of Aqua-marine colour. Quite perfect.

A beautiful Lachrymatory of the same Glass, to match the preceding Vase. Quite perfect.

Two radiated Blue Glass Beads. Perfect.

Stones

Several Stone Rings, of various sizes, colours, and quality. Perfect.

Two Rings (probably of Brass) supposed to be Ear-Rings. Imperfect.

Several White Stones, and one of Black, used to play some Roman Game similar to Draughts. Perfect.

Silver

One Zone Buckle of Silver. Quite perfect.

One ditto, a duplicate. Imperfect.

A pair of Silver Tweezers. Almost perfect.

Roman Coins &c. &c.

N.B. One of the large Red Dishes was found mended, having been placed originally in the earth in that state, and is the more interesting; exceedingly so to the Antiquary.

Any Gentleman of Antiquarian Research may inspect the above.