Find Spot record 388 - Coin Hoard

<1> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Vol.47 p.36-7 Thompson F H (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

The re-discovery in 1959 of a hoard of medieval "short-cross" pennies from Newhall. They were originally found in the winter of 1939 during building extensions to Newhall Dairies. They were found at a depth of about 5ft by workmen digging a deep drain. The coins were apparently in a bag which disintegrated and the quantity was estimated at a "shovelful", which has been estimated at 1 ,000 and 2,000 coins. The majority of the coins were thrown back with the exception of a few retained by three of the workmen.

In 1959 three of the coins were submitted to the Grosvenor Museum for identification. A visit was paid to the site and the find-spot, on the bank of a small stream known as Sales Brook, examined. The remainder of the coins now lie beneath the corner of a building and a concrete floor. The remaining 97 coins in private possession declared Treasure Trove in 1960. The British Museum retained 7 of the coins and the Grosvenor Museum took the remaining 90 (60M60). The coins date from the reigns of Henry II and Richard I and were deposited around the year 1193 (assuming the 97 coins are a representative sample). The coins came from the following mints: Canterbury, Carlisle, Exeter Lincoln, Northampton, Norwich, Oxford, Rhuddlan, Wilton, Winchester, Worcester and York. Most were from the London mint and the coins from the Rhuddlan indicate that the mint had been operating earlier than previously thought.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ64NW7 - White, JH 05/09/1991 (Index). SCH2487.

Mr GLT Gwyn of Newhall Dairies was present when the coins were found. He identified the site ast SJ 6101 4541 and said the coins were enclosed in a decayed box which was found in the bed of the former mill race.