Old Sword Decorated With Inscription And Related To 1173 Battle Of Fornham – Unearthed

AncientPages.com - A digger team working at the pond on the golf course at All Saints Hotel, Fornham St Genevieve discovered an old sword decorated with silver inscription.

The pond is located on the site of the 1173 Battle of Fornham where forces loyal to Henry II drove the rebel Earl of Leicester’s mercenaries into a marsh and killed them," writes Bury Free Press.

“It was sticking out of the digger bucket with the cross handle upwards – it was weird, really, " said Mr Weakes of Weakes Construction.

“It’s lucky the digger bucket didn’t break it. I’ve found coins, old bottles, things like that, before but nothing like this. It’s very rare for something that old to be in that condition after all those years.”

Henry the Young King, eldest son of Henry II (1133 – 1189), rebelled in 1173. The support of Louis VII of France and William the Lion of Scotland made the revolt formidable.

Henry II beat off an attack on Normandy, leaving Richard de Lucy, justiciar, to defend England.

In September Robert, earl of Leicester, landed in Suffolk. De Lucy marched to intercept the rebels. On October 17,  at Fornham St Genevieve, north of Bury St Edmunds, he defeated and captured the earl of Leicester.

The 12th century sword closely related to these historical event, was sent to a conservator who while cleaning it found engravings of words, birds and animals inlaid in silver.
That means the sword, complete with parts of its scabbard, is now going through the Treasure Act process so will be subject of an inquest. It is currently held by Suffolk County Council’s Archaeological Service.

“It’s wonderful – you can see all the silver emblems over it," Harris said.

“We would like to retain the sword on the premises. Our restaurant, The View, looks out over the battlefield so people could see it and look out over where it was found while they drink their coffee.

“Museums are great but it would be nice to have it here on the site where it was found.”

AncientPages.com