EXCAVATIONS AT WHITBY ABBEY

Evening Star, Issue 18817, 16 December 1924, Page 2

EXCAVATIONS AT WHITBY ABBEY

SAXON OBJECTS .DISCOVERED. Interest in tho ruins of Whitby Abbey has been greatly stimulated by the unearthing of Saxon objects 1,200 years old, as well a.s by tho unearthing of evidence of a very early occupation of the site upon tho north side of the present ruins. What has been discovered is predominantly Saxon, and tho few Roman objects .brought to light do not lend to any conclusion that there was a Roman settlement here. Among tho interesting finds which have been made aro small pins, keys, chains, hooks, materials for writing upon wax tablets, three bronze-gilt plaques of rich design for book covers, pieces of glass used in inlaid work, a largo number of coins about the, size of a, ..threepenny piece, belonging to the reigns of the Rings of Northumbria, Roman coins, and pieces of Roman pottery, broodies, bronze pins with faceted heads, buckles with gold filigree work, hanging howl chimps, ribbon holders of extremely fine work, a green glass cameo, and about a score of old crosses dating from the seventh century. Tho excavations formed the subject of an interesting Jed tiro in tho Church House, Whitby, when Mr G. H. Peers, Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments (lI.AT Office of Works), discoursed on ‘ Recent Investigations at Whitby Abbey. 1 Tho ruins showed, said Air Peers, that the church had not been all built at tbn same period, and there, was evidence that, in the. thirteenth century it had overbuilt itself. Almost tho only remains of the old monastic buildings had been uncovered on the. south side. Whitby was about the only place which had remains of seventh to ninth century monastic buildings. JTo had found a place where bricks used to be burnt, and a very interesting find had been a stone-lined grave, which was not the same as any other Saxon grave. Some thought it was St. Hilda’s grave.

In a window off Hoi horn in London is being shown tho telescope of Gunner J. Cottle, who was in the Victory at Trafalgar. There is a certificate from a Rond street firm, whose records show that the glass was made by them in 1784. The present owner is the greatgr mdson of J. Cottle, who was “ pressed ” into the Navy some 140 years ago. He rose to be gunner in the flagship, and this telescope was frequently used by the officers and by Nelson himself.