Down Farm Museum

Some of the thimbles Martin Green has collected from the farmland of Down farm , Cranborne Chase in Dorset

Some of the thimbles Martin Green has collected from the farmland of Down farm , Cranborne Chase in Dorset

If you like History and Archaeology , there is a hidden secret on Cranborne Chase . The Down Farm Museum. It houses the lifes work of Martin Green. 

Down Farm has belonged to Martins family since the 1930s . He started to take an interest in the archaeology present on the farm when just eleven. Cranborne Chase is a remarkable area of Britain. A good place for humans to live and humans have left their mark on Down Farm for millennia . From the Paleolithic to the present people have been dropping things, loosing things and throwing things away on the chalky soil. The land is dotted with archaeology, Martin has found so many archaeological sites and artefacts on the farm it feels as if the past was a buzzing busy place filled with human activity. Quiet now in comparison, the area has a smattering of small and beautiful old villages like Sixpenny Handily and Gussage St Michael. 

In Down Farm Museum. 

In Down Farm Museum. 

I had come to visit the Museum to look at an impressive collection of flint tools. I'm learning as much as I can about early toolmaking for an upcoming project. It was amazing to be able to see so many tools laid out on the table tops and be able to handle them.

Mesolithic blades, burins, scrapers and microliths at The Down Farm Museum

Mesolithic blades, burins, scrapers and microliths at The Down Farm Museum

Martin Green demonstrates the fine workmanship in this tool by holding it up to the light, its so thin its translucent.

Martin Green demonstrates the fine workmanship in this tool by holding it up to the light, its so thin its translucent.

What I hadn't expected to see were metal artefacts, from Bronze age right through to Tudor and beyond. Jewellery, buckles, fastenings, domestic implements and tools......

Romano British jewellery . Love the comments . 

Romano British jewellery . Love the comments . 

Jewellers did then as always, cater for all parts of society. These rings are Romano-British. They  represent the demographic on the land at Down Farm, workers, farmers and peasants who lost them going about their daily duties producing food.

Martin Green searches for interesting belt fittings and jewellery.

Martin Green searches for interesting belt fittings and jewellery.

Martin digs out some interesting metalwork for closer inspection.

Contents of finds trays at Down Farm.

Contents of finds trays at Down Farm.

The collections of rings and thimbles were lovely as were the lead votives. The patina on the brass and bronze varying colours of deep green. The thimbles are hand forged into that classic thimble cup shape and everyone a bit different. The hand punched dots on the thimbles were slightly wobbly and very satisfying.

Silver Filigree thing

Silver Filigree thing

Some things were mysteries though........ any ideas what this thing might be?

Visits to Down Farm Museum are by appointment .