Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    X567/99
  • Title
    An account of archaeological explorations and finds between 1860 and 1872 by James Wyatt with, in the margin, plans and diagrams, and sketches of some of the finds (numbered 1 to 54) with an account of their eventual location
  • Date free text
    1860 - 1872
  • Production date
    From: 1860 To: 1872
  • Scope and Content
    Had made constant observations in gravel along Ouse valley, but though found remains of extinct mammals of Pliocene period, up to 1860 had found no flint tools, but in that year did find 2 at St Acheul by Amiens. In April 1861 accompanied Mr John Evans to Whitstable and Herne Bay, and both found implements. On 8 April 1861 was looking in sections of Bromham estate gravel pit in Biddenham and discovered 2 flint implements. Pit is near avenue road leading from Bedford Road, nearly opposite road to Biddenham, and is about 40 yards from Roman Well discovered in 1859. Sketch map of site. 22nd April 1861 Sir Charles Lyell, Mr Prestwich and Mr Evans came and inspected both finds and pit. Account of other remains of extinct animals at Clapham, Bletsoe, and at Radwell when Midland Railway was constructed. May 1861 Flint found in ballast taken from Harrowden pits. 6th June Reverend E Hiller found at a little gravel pit in Cardington, a portion of a large implement. End of August bones, teeth and flints discovered in Biddenham pit. One flint presented to Blackmore Museum. Section of Ouse Valley at Bedford showing Biddenham Gravel Pit and Old Roman Well. 6 October 1861 shells in Mr Littledale's pit at Kempston. 4 December 1861 Mr Charles Berrill found flint in load of gravel while giving directions to men employed by him on Bromham Road. Line of railway from Bedford to Cambridge hopeful, as meant excavations for ballast. 5 December bones and Hippopotamus tusk, and shells. 5 December 1861 bones and teeth found in little pit in Mr Hintons field at Clapham Folly. Section Sketch of Summerhouse Hill or Brickkiln at Cardington. Has been cut into for railway ballast. Section. Bones, shells etc. 12 May 1862 visited Abbeville. "The workmen offered us a great number of haches for sale, but only three were genuine, which I secured: the others had been manufactured lately to meet the demand now made by English tourists for these antiquities!" Table of fossil mammals found in gravel beds in Bedford, Clapham, Bletsoe, Kempston, Elstow, Harrowden, Summerhouse Hill Cardington, Goldington, Biddenham, Kempston Road railway cutting. 1862 Biddenham Gravel Pit: 2 fossil bones. 2 good, small flint haches, nos.10 and 11, since given to John Evans, esquire. More fossil bones and teeth. Section of pit against the turnpike road Cardington: bones found when ballast digging (Summerhouse Hill) 1863 Clapham: Elephant tusk found in pit at Clapham Folly Biddenham: Bones, teeth, haches, freshwater shells. Publication of Sir Charles Lyell's book on "The Geological evidence of the Antiquity of Man" which mentions Biddenham discoveries Cardington: End of work, but found a small flint. (Summerhouse Hill) Section of Summerhouse Hill Biddenham: flint tools (presented to Christy Collection of B M in 1868 through Mr A W Franks) 1863 Discovery of human bone at Abbeville, and dispute as to genuineness of find Interleaved letter from John Evans, Hemel Hempstead. Had passed through Bedford when J W away. "I also got a couple of Saxon Urns from Mr Reed and Mr Prestwich bought his collection of bones and teeth" 1864 Paper read to Geological Society Hache found at Biddenham and presented to Mr John Evans, examined Lord Dynevor's specimens derived from this pit. Described Roman remains when pit first opened by road (Ibb's information). Haches found which were eventually given to Mr John Evans. Visit to pits by Mr McChesney, the American Consul at Newcastle on Tyne. 8 July, on visit to Lord Dynevor's Park at Bromham, found in gravel in gardens both portions of human skull and also hache of Drift type. Found that gravel had been taken from a cutting for a large grave on the eastern side of the Church Yard. December. Bed of gravel worked on site of Cauldwell Priory, close to offices of Brittania Works: remains of head of Rhinoceros tichorhenus. 1865 hache taken from Biddenham pit (presented to Blackmore Museum at Salisbury to which several other finds presented) 1866 At Acheul with Mr James Howard and Mr Todhunter. 22 November Mr J Tacey Wing said that labourers in gravel pit at Bletsoe had found an elephant's tusk 1867 January 18. Visit from 'notorious Edward Simpson, alias "Flint Jack" whose stay in Bedford ended with him stealing a clock from the Methodist Chapel Schoolroom. 1 year's imprisonment Visit to Thetford and Wootton, Norfolk More finds at Biddenham 20 November inquest at Kempston on Lambert, one of the oldest workmen at the gravel pits at Up End, and best observer. Was buried by a fall. 1868 Purchased engraving which is proof of one of Fisher's Illustrations - a large Celt in writer's collection, found either at Odell or Pavenham. Given to Wyatt by the Reverend E R Williamson, who had been given it by the Reverend E O Marsh of Felmersham Visited Brandon and Downham. Flint knapping, and gun flint making 1869 Biddenham: two small flint haches Grounds of Bedford Middle Class School: bones and teeth of Bos, and tusk of Hippopotamus Expedition to Westward Ho and another to Downham 1870 South Wootton, Norfolk 1870. Finds 1871-2 Finds, and natural caves at Biddenham
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