Roman Coin hoards in north-east Lancashire !

We are all aware, or most of us are, of the famous Cuerdale Hoard, a treasure trove of over 8,000 Viking, Anglo-Saxon, Frankish, eastern European and Asian coins that were found on the south bank of the river Ribble in 1840. Workmen constructing a new river embankment dug up a lead chest containing these early 10th century artefacts, most in quite good condition, close to Cuerdale Hall between Samlesbury and Hoghton (Os grid SD.577 295) some 3 miles east of Preston. However, are you aware that over in east Lancashire several hoards of Roman coins have been found in the past and, although not as large as the Cuerdale hoard, these discoveries are worth mentioning.

In the well-known work 'The History of Marsden and Nelson' by the acclaimed author Mr W. Bennett published by Nelson Corporation in 1957 we are informed of these Roman finds in the first section of the book called Prehistoric and Roman Times pages 1-6. Bennett goes on to say:-

"The consequences of the three great rebellions of the northern Britons in 155, 275 and 367 AD may perhaps be seen in the large number of Roman coins that have been found in many places near Nelson, but it is a great pity that we do not know all the details about them". "Great numbers (of coins have been found) in the long ascending lane from Colne Water to Castercliffe". "Others at the foot of Castercliffe". "Great numbers of coins at Wheatley Lane and many coins at Greenfield, Colne, are statements that are interesting but too vague to be of much value". "Isolated coins might have been lost accidentally but hoards were probably hidden deliberately and so have a great historical importance when their dates and types are known". "Silver coins when part of a hoard doubtless belonged to a comparatively wealthy man while the very small bronze coins often represented a Roman soldier's savings or gambling profits". " Coins found at Whalley can be dated to 69-81 and 260 to 367".

The author now gives us a list of some of the better known Roman coin hoards found in east Lancashire and the west Yorkshire border. These are:-

"Barcroft (200 coins) from 306-337 AD".
"Kitson Wood near the Long Causeway (a hoard) from 117-141 AD".
"Mytholmroyd (300 coins) from 260-268 AD".
"Holme (coins) from 98-138 AD".
"Emmott near Colne (silver coins in a silver cup) from 260-268 AD".

The author goes on to say that:-

"From an examination of the dates and the sites where the coins were found, three deductions seem possible - firstly, the last dated coins in each hoard correspond roughly with the date of a rebellion; secondly, the hoards were probably hidden by persons escaping from the romanised villages in the plains; and thirdly, the fugitives followed a prehistoric track which in Roman times had become a vicinal way". "If these deductions are true, Marsden and its immediate vicinity must have witnessed on occasions pitiful scenes of individuals and small groups of people hurrying away from the terror in their villages and hiding their money in some spot that they hoped to remember whenever they returned".

The Romans weren't daft. Were they?
Hiding coins and things in Colne, is really smart.
For one thing, who's going to go there to look for them? even if there's a fortune.
I always thought the M65 was a good idea, because it enables people to get away from 'Cowne' a lot faster.
To be fair though, Colne has it's good points. There's a road leaving it, over to Crossflats as well.

Yes, Colne was called Calna or Coluna by the Romans, they may have even inhabited the Iron-Age hillfort at Castercliff. The hidden track that leads around the southern side of the fort is often thought to have been used by Romano-Britons traversing the plateau between Thursden and the River Calder down in the valley where Nelson and Barrowford now stand.