SHOP owner Mike Russell has decided to open his very own museum - after discovering his basement was home to thousands of artefacts dating back hundreds of years, writes STEPHEN DEAL.

The 67-year-old was amazed to unearth everything from coins and clay pipes to fishmongers' tokens and a jar after he started work on renovating his shop Waterline in East St Helen Street, Abingdon.

He also discovered pottery dating from as far back as the Iron Age - 800 years before the birth of Christ.

Now he has decided to make use of the hidden treasures by opening his very own museum so visitors can see his discoveries for themselves.

Mike, of Oxford Road, Abingdon, said: "When I started to renovate the derelict basement, I immediately realised I was uncovering part of Abingdon's history.

"During the work I found walls which were probably built with stones from the famous Abingdon Abbey after it was demolished in 1538.

"Below that I revealed the remains of a peasant's house. There were Saxon and Roman artefacts, including a rare lead coin."

He added: "Here was a record of people who had lived in the middle of Abingdon for more than 2,000 years. I decided that, when I could, I would turn the basement into a museum to show the history of the site.

"The chance came after my retirement last year." Since then, the pensioner has worked on his dream and is now ready to open the Little Basement Museum next month.

He estimates he has between 10,000 and 20,000 items that will be on show - and every one of them discovered in his basement.

He said: "We are talking about 2,000 bits of clay pipes alone.

"I have never been particularly interested in history - it was an abomination to me at school. But I have shown the basement to archaeologists and those interested in the history of Abingdon and they have been very interested in what they have seen."

The basement was once used as a rubbish pit, which accounts for the huge number of items Mike has uncovered.

Another fact he has discovered is that the peasant's dwelling once led out onto the dirt road outside - which was then two metres below the level of the road as it is now.

Visitors will also be able to see the original pre-medieval well used in the dwelling.

Jill Draper, curator of Abingdon Museum in the Market Place, said there could be many other historic gems waiting to be discovered all over Abingdon - which lays claim to being the oldest town in England.

Items she has had on display at her museum in the past have included a 17th-century jacket which was also discovered in a property in East St Helen Street.

She said: "All of Abingdon could be turned into a museum, almost.

"Good luck to Mr Russell. He has put so much work into his project, he deserves it."

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