Cox Street - River Excavations

October 1933

COX STREET EXCAVATIONS (Continued)

The excavations beneath the brick culvert running under the Triumph Works did not yield a great number of articles, but those found were of great interest. One was a piece of leather about 11-ins. by 7-ins., on which was an embossed figure of a man's head, with a flowing beard, a lion's body, and wings ; around the edges were scroll marks, almost in the form of a figure 9, and wording in Latin, in Old English letters, viz.: -

This piece of leather I sent to the British Museum for information, and in about three weeks received the following letter from the Assistant Keeper: -

During the next month (August) a further letter was received as follows: -

Very near to this leather fragment a human skull was discovered, at a depth of about two feet below the river bed (possibly not the original bed). Other human bones were found with it, also part of a leather dagger sheath. Doctors say the skull is of a man about 30 years of age. As a battle was fought on this ground by Marmion, a great warrior from Tamworth, it may have been one of the victims. The story of the affray is that in 1141 Marmion turned the monks out of the church, and fortified it, also the buildings attached, making trenches in the fields around, and covering them over to act as a trap to the enemy (the Earl's army). Being attacked by the Earl's men, and having forgotten where the trenches were, Marmion fell into one with his horse, and a soldier cut off his head. This was said to have been a judgement of God for the profaning of His sacred place.