36 



but for at least thirteen centuries^ the little Fisher brook has 

 murmured her requiem as it hurried by to the Avon, which 

 has washed the south side of her burial mound. 



Much interest attaches itself to the grave which was next 

 to hers on the western side, for in this was found the frag- 

 ments of one of those curious buckets, which have given 

 rise to much speculation. The bucket was the largest of 

 the three which have been found at Longbridge, but it was 

 60 nearly the same pattern as the second one as not to be 

 distinguished asunder. It is 7| inches high, and is sur- 

 rounded by five bands or hoops of bronze of varying widths, 

 which are fastened to upright strips of plain bronze by 

 square-headed rivets, which gives it a checquered appearance 

 totally uulike any of those figures in Fausett's " Inventorium 

 Sepulchrale," or Akerman's "Pagan Saxondom," or in the 

 British Museum. This bucket has also this peculiarity. 

 On the stave to which one of the upriglit bands is fastened, 

 on the inside, is a piece of linen, about an inch square, 

 fastened. It is finely woven, of excellent and smooth thread* 

 and adheres firmly to the wood. The wood is remarkably 

 sound and tough, and appears to be yew. The circular 

 fibulffi in this grave differed, too from all the others. They 

 were saucer shaped, and richly gilt ; the incised markings 

 or chisellings diCered in pattern, but surrounded a small 

 piece of ruby-coloured glass, which was securely fastened 

 in the centre. The umbo of the shield was unusally heavy, 

 and contained the brace by which it was held by the hand. 



In the immediate neighbourhood, if not in this grave, 

 was found a spear head, which measui'ed with the iron socket, 

 two feet in length, and doubtless other remains would 

 be found in the immediate neighbourhood of these graves 

 if the excavations were resumed. 



