A copper-alloy Early Medieval hanging bowl mount or escutcheon probably dating to the c. 7th century AD. The mount consists of a discoidal mount body, with a broken hanging terminal. The terminal is decorated with three circles two of which are sub-divided into recessed squared segments decorated with milifiori glass composed of blue with white dots delineated by red. Within the very centre of the mount, a recessed circle has been inlaid with green glass or enamel. The outer circumference of the mount disc itself has also been tinned or silvered.

Millefiori is very unusual on hanging-bowl mounts; Bruce-Mitford lists 11 examples of hanging-bowls with millefiori (2005, 67). There are similar star-in-circle designs from several, such as the St Paul in the Bail bowl, the exterior base escutcheon on the Manton Warren bowl, and on the Sutton Hoo bowl 1 (Bruce-Mitford 2005, col pl. 4); the same design can also be found in an enamelled version on the Baginton bowl (Bruce-Mitford 2005, no. 93).
The length is 29mm, the width is 25mm thickness 10mm. Photos from finder.
Roman SiteVisit

Manton Circle

in Manton

📷 Photo by The Portable Antiquities Scheme, Stuart Noon, 2018-06-19 14:48:29 · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

For those interested in history, this Roman site near Ogbourne St Andrew offers a window into occupation from nearly two thousand years ago.

Known locally as Manton Circle, it's not a place of reconstructed buildings or museum displays—instead, you're looking at the physical remnants of a circular structure or enclosure that once served purposes we can only partly understand today. The appeal lies in walking the grounds and observing how the landscape itself preserves evidence of ancient activity. It's a contemplative kind of visit, the sort where you notice the subtle rise and fall of the fields and feel the weight of time passing across the same ground.

The site sits in open countryside with minimal facilities, so come prepared for rural conditions. It works well as a stopping point during a countryside walk or as part of a driving tour through the region. The setting contrasts sharply with the more recent layers of history visible elsewhere in the area. Once you've spent time here, Marlborough is only a short drive away—the town's busy market square and historic high street offer food, shops, and all the practical amenities you might need. Manton Circle demonstrates how the Cotswolds landscape holds story upon story, each era leaving its mark on the same piece of England.

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51.44175°N, 1.77302°W Data: osm