THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

AN ANGLO-SAXON'S BURIED HOARD

(and a ghost story)

Copyright Valerie Martin 1998.

First published in Along the Furlong in January 1998.

The ancient encampment above Findon, known as Cissbury Ring was, undoubtedly, an ancient British stronghold.  Cissbury Ring would have appeared as a formidable fortress to the invading Saxons but the local authorities in the Findon area appear to have surrendered to the Saxon sword without a battle. Although a pit housing a store of slings stones has been found but no evidence of a long siege or battle for possession of the massive stronghold.

Eddius, a writer in the 8th century described Sussex as still being a territory

The Saxon village of Findon lies buried and undisturbed under the site of the field north of St. John the Baptist Church.  I understand that because the Saxons built in wood, rather than stone, there are no upstanding building remaining.

During the reign of Aethelred II (1009-1016), and Cnut (1016-1035), the Sussex Saxon Mint was moved from its original base at Steyning, and coins of the realm were minted up on the Cissbury hillside above Findon. Possibly the threat of Viking aggression from over the sea persuaded the Saxons to relocate their Mint to within the embankments of the old fort.  

Anglo-Saxon coins have also been unearthed at nearby Chanctonbury which gives more evidence to habitation in the area overlooking Findon.

The land to the north of Chanctonbury was owned in Saxon times by King Harold's brother, Earl Gurth. 

One chilly December day in 1866, a farm hand was tilling at Chancton Farm, a mile or so north of Chanctonbury Ring when his plough floundered and literally struck gold.  He had quite by chance unearthed a cache of coins beyond belief.

The crock containing them was smashed wide open and the coins spilled and rolled in all directions.  A fellow worker approached, and then another, and they all began to scoop up the coins as fast a they could by the hundred.  In all there were some three thousand pennies. 

Not being recognisable currency of the kingdom, these simple men regarded the find as of only trinket value, and the coins passed from hand to hand with curiosity and were not considered of any great monetary worth.

Christmas of 1866 approached.  Interest in the treasure-trove was still a talking point at the Washington public house as the labourers mounted the steps into the bar.  The beer on offer was in excellent condition and their thirst equalled it.  The innkeeper was enthused by his customers and was eventually persuaded to accept a half pint measure of the coins in exchange for a quart of beer from his barrels.  The customers raised their jars, inhaled the bouquet and drained their ale.

The discovery of the buried treasure eventually reached the ears of more literate men and the worthy Washington postmaster and the Parham vicar became curious.  It was revealed that the coins were, in fact, pennies from the reigns of Edward the Confessor and Harold.  The original crock in the ploughed field was estimated to have held nearly twice the number of coins which eventually found their way to the safe keeping of the British Museum.  Many coins were dispersed into the locality and some may now be in private collections, or are they all lost?

The mystery is, who was the man, almost a thousand years ago, who was careful enough to consign his stockpile of amassed cash to an earthy vault?  Why did he do it?  Why did he not return to retrieve his accumulated riches and benefit from its wealth?  Did misfortune befall him?  There is always a tragedy to be unearthed when there is a discovery of a buried hoard.  It is obvious that the owner squirreled this money away in fear of misadventure.  Finally disaster caught up with him and he was never to return.

There is a strange paranormal tale passed down the ages in connection with the discovery of this treasure.  On the spot where the plough turned up the money, known as Gurth's Barn (although no barn now stands), the form of a poor Saxon with a flowing white beard has been sighted from "time-everlasting beyond".  He was killed at the Battle of Hastings and has been witnessed with his head bowed to the ground as if he is seeking the coins he has lost forever.  The legend has been testified by dependable people, although the phenomena is scientifically unexplainable.  Sceptics may put forward the theory that the old man is, in fact, different solitary old gentlemen on their constitutional strolls — but nevertheless, I think it be best not to distract him if he is deep in thought.

When next driving north from Findon and turning right along the foot of the Downs from the Washington roundabout and heading towards Steyning, spare a thought for the Anglo-Saxon man who had his worldly goods and failed to return to collect them.   When looking across the fields below Chanctonbury, imagine the glee of the labouring men, who close to the festive season, scrabbled to gather the coins — which were to provide them with no more wealth than a quart of beer.

At the beginning of August 2007, I heard from George Johnson....

 "Hello Valerie Martin, I was quite intrigued with your article, which was found on your web-site, pertaining to the " Anglo-Saxon's Buried Hoard" along with the pictures of Chanctonbury Ring.

As my family resided in the Steyning vicinity in the 1700's, I have always been interested in anything regarding the name of " Johnson " in relation to that part of Sussex.

I have had an un-dated article from the publication " Notes & Queries" on my file for a number of years, which you may find of interest, which reads as follows...

Whether I am in fact, connected to the Johnson concerned in the article is unknown, but I found both your article and the one submitted by J. P. Bacon-Phillips, most interesting.

Thank you, George Johnson, Westbank, British Columbia, Canada".

Continue if you would like to read about Findon's Mounted Postboy.

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created exclusively for documenting life in Findon.