Freeman, John
Biographical Display
Fawley Court Time Capsule
In 1731, John Freeman, of Fawley Court organised the burial of a collection of domestic items and tableware used in the kitchens and dining room of Fawley Court in a specially created mound in the grounds of Henley Park. The circular mound, 29 metres in diameter and 3 metres high in the Deer Park, was thought to be a prehistoric barrow before its excavation in 1932. Photographs taken during the excavations show the time capsule located in a chamber of chalk blocks within the mound. A Romano-British pot was one of the first finds from the mound. Curiously, it was buried on its own, away from the main chamber. It is possible that this was a curio in the 18th century. Dr Plot in 'Natural History of Oxfordshire, 2nd edition 1705 noted that a Roman pot ha been found in the Market Place in Henley.
A Plaque in the basement of Fawley Court records that John Freeman employed some of the local poor to build walls on the estate during a time of agricultural depression. It is possible that burying the time capsule may have been part of this work.
Two broken panes of glass, inscribed using a diamond, with Latin text, explained the time capsule and gave an insight into Henley in 1731.
Pane 1
In the year of our Lord 1731 John Freeman of Fawley Esq. has raised up this mass mound, having buried in it a medley of pieces of glass, of vessels of pottery and other household utensils, so that, if perchance at sometime curious posterity should examine this old rubbish, it may find something to give pleasure, and perhaps profit since some arts are dying out
Pane 2
Henley, situated on the Thames, lies rather close to this place on this side of the Thames. The church lies.....about 600 yards away. The town itself is made up of about 500 houses and 3000 inhabitants engage in making malt as their principal trade under the control of the Mayor and ten Aldermen......
The fields of the surrounding district are sown with wheat, barley, pease, oats, pulse(vetch) beans and grass. The hills on each side are clothed with woods, chiefly composed of beech, ash and oak, and in most of the estates are elms.
In the gardens of Fawley is planted every kind of tree which is known in Europe.....
Placed on the 8th day of December in the year of our Lord 1731 in the fourth year of the reign of George, King of England.
The glass and pottery buried in the time capsule in 1731 contained high quality tableware such as imported Japanese porcelain and early English lead crystal or flint glass as well as earthenware and wine bottles used in the kitchen. They give a fascinating insight into upstairs and downstairs of an English country house of the early 18th century.
In 1731, John Freeman, of Fawley Court organised the burial of a collection of domestic items and tableware used in the kitchens and dining room of Fawley Court in a specially created mound in the grounds of Henley Park. The circular mound, 29 metres in diameter and 3 metres high in the Deer Park, was thought to be a prehistoric barrow before its excavation in 1932. Photographs taken during the excavations show the time capsule located in a chamber of chalk blocks within the mound. A Romano-British pot was one of the first finds from the mound. Curiously, it was buried on its own, away from the main chamber. It is possible that this was a curio in the 18th century. Dr Plot in 'Natural History of Oxfordshire, 2nd edition 1705 noted that a Roman pot ha been found in the Market Place in Henley.
A Plaque in the basement of Fawley Court records that John Freeman employed some of the local poor to build walls on the estate during a time of agricultural depression. It is possible that burying the time capsule may have been part of this work.
Two broken panes of glass, inscribed using a diamond, with Latin text, explained the time capsule and gave an insight into Henley in 1731.
Pane 1
In the year of our Lord 1731 John Freeman of Fawley Esq. has raised up this mass mound, having buried in it a medley of pieces of glass, of vessels of pottery and other household utensils, so that, if perchance at sometime curious posterity should examine this old rubbish, it may find something to give pleasure, and perhaps profit since some arts are dying out
Pane 2
Henley, situated on the Thames, lies rather close to this place on this side of the Thames. The church lies.....about 600 yards away. The town itself is made up of about 500 houses and 3000 inhabitants engage in making malt as their principal trade under the control of the Mayor and ten Aldermen......
The fields of the surrounding district are sown with wheat, barley, pease, oats, pulse(vetch) beans and grass. The hills on each side are clothed with woods, chiefly composed of beech, ash and oak, and in most of the estates are elms.
In the gardens of Fawley is planted every kind of tree which is known in Europe.....
Placed on the 8th day of December in the year of our Lord 1731 in the fourth year of the reign of George, King of England.
The glass and pottery buried in the time capsule in 1731 contained high quality tableware such as imported Japanese porcelain and early English lead crystal or flint glass as well as earthenware and wine bottles used in the kitchen. They give a fascinating insight into upstairs and downstairs of an English country house of the early 18th century.
