The secrets of the South Downs sword
A beautiful fitting from a rare Anglo-Saxon sword discovered in the South Downs has gone on display for the first time.
The Stopham Mount, thought to be between 1,300 and 1,400 years old, has gone on display at The Novium Museum in Chichester following a successful crowdfunding appeal.
Discovered in 2022 near Stopham, the mount dates to around AD 600-700. While similar mounts have been found in other archaeological excavations – including the Staffordshire Hoard and the Sutton Hoo burial – it’s only the second object of its kind found in West Sussex.
Measuring just over 16mm in height, it’s believed it would have once adorned the scabbard of a sword of a high-status warrior. Decorated with intricate gold settings and garnets, it would have been a statement of power, wealth and status.
The mount was acquired by the museum after a successful crowdfunding appeal that raised £9,000.
Since its acquisition, The Novium has been preparing the mount for display, including conservation work and purchasing a new display case supported by a grant from Arts Council England, Art Fund and Museum Development South East.
Anooshka Rawden, Cultural Heritage Lead for the National Park, explained: “The South Downs is rich in the story of Saxon settlement.
“A landscape that looked different from today with its extensive salt marshes and seasonally flooded islands, inlets and river valley estates – kingdoms emerged, including Sussex and Wessex, and we can see the stories of Saxon life and death at sites such as Apple Down, which revealed an Anglo-Saxon cemetery from the 6th century, and St. Hubert’s in Idsworth, with its origins in the 11th century, among many others.
“But with the Stopham Mount we benefit from seeing the colour, splendour and craftsmanship of Saxon England. Beyond being a symbol of power and status, survivals like this can also tell us about materials, trade and visual culture – an amazing artefact to join The Novium Museum’s significant archaeological collections from the Chichester District.”