A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



animal, in the excavations made in the Ribble in 1885 for construction of 

 the Preston Docks. It therefore seems to be distinct from an entirely 

 similar implement described as a Roman spear-head found within three yards 

 of a bronze celt (previously mentioned) in 1 840/ at Cuerdale (Walton-le-Dale) 

 by some men in deepening a ditch, at 4 ft. from the surface. 



Another spear-head is recorded as found with other bronze implements, 

 socketed celts, etc., in the River Ribble, but the details are wanting.' 



A finer example is that from Winmarleigh, found with the great 

 looped spear described below. It is of similar general character, but with a 

 regular deep sharpened edge along both sides. It measures 8g in. over all, 

 with a blade of 6 J in., and width ij in. The socket is just over an inch in 

 diameter at the mouth, and as in the former case tapers gradually in straight 

 convergence to the point. It is in excellent preservation. See the photo- 

 graph of Plate V. No. 6, which illustrates this object among its deposit. 



An interesting socketed spear-head was found at 

 Irlam, near Manchester, in digging the Ship Canal, at 

 a depth of 20 ft., and is now preserved in the War- 

 rington Museum. The blade is small, 3 in. in length, 

 I i in. in width, and the socket for the most part is 

 external to it, the implement measuring over all 5I in. 

 The socket is rimmed at its end, and provided on each 

 side with a prolonged loop for securing to the shaft. 

 Between the loop and the blade on the side are a series 

 of notches (fig. 23). 



A double looped spear-head is reported to have 

 been found near Leigh,* but the record is deficient. 



The spear-head from Piethorne, near Rochdale, 

 where it was found at the waterworks, is double- 

 looped in the blade, and though weather-worn is an 

 interesting object. It measures over all 6| in., with 

 Fic. 23.— Spear-Head ^ ^^^^^ 5 in. long and if in. wide across the loops. 

 Looped ON Shaft, FROM Irlam. The socket is Very wide in proportion, measuring 



Scale, 1 : 2. 

 (Warrington Museum.) 



i-i^ in. at the mouth. The implement is otherwise 

 ^^^f-shaped, as seen in fig 24, and converges in section 

 uniformly as in the other instances. 



The great spear-head from Winmarleigh, now in the museum at 

 Warrington, is of similar type, leaf-shaped, with loops in the blade. This 

 weapon surpasses all others of the county not merely for its size and preser- 

 vation but for the fine workmanship and finish of detail. The photograph 

 Plate V. No. 7 shows this splendid specimen with the other implements found 

 on the site. It measures 19J in. over all, with a blade about 16 in. long and 

 k ^"ki^^ T^,.'^^^ ^°°P^ ^^^ symmetrical curves from the socket in the width of 

 the blade. The socket is somewhat slender, being ij in. wide at its mouth, 

 and^U tapers elegantly to the point. A rivet-hole is provided for fixing the 



This spear-head and that described previously (No. 6) are recorded to 

 have been found, together with the five celts (Nos. 1-5 in Plate V.), in ' a strong, 

 rude, oaken box, with pins of the same, at Winmarleigh near Garstang.' 



1 Joun,. Brit. Arch. Ass. viii. 332 3 Mam. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Trans, v. 5 27, No. 6. 3 Ibid. v. 5 3 1 . 



236 



