Most Interesting Discovery of Anglo-Saxon Coins at Cuerdale
Friday this week is the anniversary of the discovery of the Cuerdale Hoard, which is now 186 years ago.
MOST INTERESTING DISCOVERY OF ANGLO-SAXON COINS.
On Friday last a large collection of most valuable and interesting Anglo-Saxon coins, and other reliques of olden time, was discovered close to the river Ribble, at Cuerdale, near Preston. We understand that some workmen were employed in removing some ground on the banks of the river, which had become undermined by the action of the water, when they turned up an old leaden chest, containing about ten thousand of the coins alluded to, several silver bracelets, and a quantity of ingots or bars of silver. The coins are of silver, and weigh about twenty grains each. Mr. Assheton, of Downham Hall, near Clitheroe, is the owner of the property on which the discovery was made, and the chest and its contents have been removed to the Old Bank. Preston, until Mr. Assheton, who is now at Rome, can be communicated with and give instructions as to their disposal. Collectors are in a furor of excitement about this event.
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 1840
Publication: Blackburn Standard
Gale Primary Sources
British Library Newspapers:
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/R3207844178/BNCN?u=lancs&sid=bookmark-BNCN&pg=2&xid=c18e2bbd
~
With regard to the article, ‘Friday last’ was 15th May 1840.
Future generations attributed this treasure to the Vikings and not the Anglo-Saxons. It was wrongly attributed at the time, because the Cuerdale Hoard, as it would later become known, included Anglo-Saxon artefacts.