Find Spot record 1291 - Bronze age stone tool from Tatton Mere

Bronze Age stone adze found at Tatton Mere in June 1929. It is of hard grey sandstone 4.75ins long, 2.75ins wide & c.1.5ins thick. Central perforation, of hour glass type (1).

Before excavations began a single perforated stone adze or hammerhead found in 1929 in the mere when the water level had been lowered by 4ft, was the sole indicator of prehistoric activity in the township. This came from an area where attempts to construct a ford across Tatton Mere had caused a great quantity of imported rubble to be deposited. The find therefore may not have originated in the township. (2)

Adze now in Tatton Hall Museum (8). Damaged at butt end and most severely at blade end (3).

<1> Jackson J W, 1936, The North Western Naturalist, 11/113 Jackson J W 1936 (Book). SCH3220.

<2> Higham N.J, Cane T., 1997, The Tatton Park Project, Part 1: Prehistoric to Sub-Roman Settlement and Land Use. JCAS, p.5,10,38+39 (Article in Journal). SCH4939.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/86 Longley D 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.286 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<5> Serial: Longley D.. 1980. The Victoria History of the County of Cheshire. p.40, p.86 (Book). SCH4980.

<6> Higham N J & Aylett P, 1990, A Short History of Tatton, p.2 (Booklet-Leaflet). SCH4950.

<7> Jackson J W, 1936, The North Western Naturalist, 11/113 Jackson J W 1936 (Book). SCH3220.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ78SE2 (Index). SCH2487.