Monument record MDO487 - Mint, Bridport
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Summary
There was a mint at Bridport from the reign of Athelstan until after the Conquest. Striking was intermittent, the last Saxon issue being that of Harold II.
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
The only coinage of the Bridport mint yet known belongs to the period 1066-1100 A.D. (1) Coins of AETHELRED II & CANUTE previously assigned to a mint in BRIDGNORTH, SHROPSHIRE are suggested to have come from a mint at BRIDPORT. (2-3) A penny of AETHELRED II struck at BRIDPORT MINT was exhibited by H. Symonds at the DORSET CO. MUSEUM. Forms part of SY 49 SE 70. (4) No further information concerning a mint at BRIDPORT was obtained during field investigation. (5)
A mint existed at 'Brydian' in Athelstan's reign, the suggestion being that this was the site of the alleged Bridport mint. Brydian has been identified as Old Warren hillfort (SY 58 NE 20) in Little Bredy by RCHME. It is not inconceivable that Bridport was the 'port of Bredy', the definitive site being deserted in favour of the port site some time before the Conquest. The location of the Bridport mint therefore remains uncertain at present. (6)
The mint sequence starts with Athelstan, then a gap until Ethelred II's reign, when coining was intermittent. Coins of Cnut are represented from 1023-35, and those of Harthacnut are fully represented. Only the 1046-8 issue of Edward the Confessor is known, and the sequence ends with Harold II. (7)
Sources/Archives (11)
- <1> SWX1169 Unpublished document: Swatridge, G C. Various. Field Investigators Comments GCS. F1 GCS 14-JUL-54.
- <1.1> SWX1971 Monograph: Warne, C. 1872. Ancient Dorset (2nd Edition). 306.
- <2> SWX1361 Article in serial: Symonds H. 1907. Coins Struck in Dorset during Saxon, Norman and Stuart Periods. Vol 28. p159ff..
- <3> SDO28 Serial: Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. 1923. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1920-1921. 43. 37-40.
- <3> SWX1362 Article in serial: Symonds, H. 1923. Evidence for an Anglo-Saxon Mint at Bridport. Vol 43. p37-40.
- <4> SWX1363 Article in serial: 1924. Proc Dorset Nat Hist. Antiq. FC 45.. Vol 45. p61 (lxi).
- <5> SWX1169 Unpublished document: Swatridge, G C. Various. Field Investigators Comments GCS. F2 GCS 22-SEP-54.
- <6> SWX1202 Monograph: Penn, K J. 1980. Historic Towns in Dorset.
- <6.1> SWX1209 Article in serial: Blunt C E. 1974. The coinage of Athelstan, 924-939: a survey. Vol 42. p35-160.
- <7> SWX1366 Monograph: Hill, David. 1981. An Atlas of Anglo-Saxon England. p131.
- <8> SDO14739 Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 450170.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Location
| Grid reference | SY 46 92 (point) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | SY49SE |
| Civil Parish | Bridport; Dorset |
| Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 1 016 054
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 49 SE 33
- Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 450170
Record last edited
Dec 20 2022 3:31PM