“A Horseman Riding By”

This beautiful Late Saxon stirrup mount has appeared on one of our field surveys in Lenham Parish. It is in good condition, made of copper alloy (bronze to most people) and has traces of gilding; so in its original condition was very fine indeed! It was positively identified by Ceiwin Paynton, the BBC Finds Officer who was on another site in the Maidstone area during the weekend we found it.

Who was the Saxon who lost it? One can only surmise of course. But say the leather was worn on a long ride to Yorkshire then back here to Kent, finally breaking off on the way down to Sussex...to another famous Battle.

Wrong direction you say? Not at all, the defending Saxons did not know exactly where the Normans would land (we do in hindsight) and they may well have come this way.

Ceiwin said it would have been set with the two holes downwards...but I have drawn it this way up because the stylised face definitely looks like a bear. The ears are too short for a wolf. Maybe the Thane rode with his two bears looking up at him?

All we can definitely say is that a Late Saxon lost one stirrup mount...a horse-man riding by...on the way through Lenham.

Lesley Feakes