A team of budding young archaeologists set about cleaning their latest finds at Bannockburn House on Saturday (14 August), under the watchful eye of local expert Colin Davenport.
The hoard, discovered in a Victorian midden (or dump) in the grounds of the seventeenth century mansion earlier this summer, included a large amount of pottery and bottles as well as some more unique items.
Colin said: “The star find was a Victorian tooth paste jar, which is in perfect condition. But the toothbrushes in the photos are for cleaning the items, not for brushing teeth!”
The discarded items give clues to the history of the House, as Colin explained: “We found several blacking bottles in the midden. These were used to clean iron-work, such as fireplaces and cookers. Someone must have liked the guest rooms to look smart.”
He added: “We also found an ink well, which would have sat in a recess in a table and may have been used by staff working in the House.”
-
- Verity washing the base of a blacking bottle.
-
- Raphael with a Victorian blacking bottle.
-
- Nicholas and David clean an assortment of pottery sherds, trying to find pieces that may fit together.
-
- Juliette cleans a large piece of a Victorian print ware bowl with an animal design.
-
- Joshua prepares to wash part of a large Victorian ornamental print ware bowl.
-
- Isaac washing the rim of a large Victorian print ware plate.
-
- Alfie washing the base of a large Victorian stoneware jar.
-
- Alanna with part of a large Victorian glazed stoneware lid which has been cleaned and labelled for display.
-
- Beatrix with the star find – a complete Victorian toothpaste jar.
-
- Finn with a complete Victorian salt glazed ink well.