A piece of rare and valuable jewellery has been discovered by Hull lorry driver Adam Day.
On a regular outing with his metal detecting equipment, Day unearthed a 15th-Century bishop’s ring in a farmer’s field near to Beverley Minster, East Riding of Yorkshire. The 20-carat gold ring is engraved with a floral pattern and depicts images of St George and St Catherine. An expert from Hanson’s Auction House, Adam Staples, has dated the ring between 1450 and 1550, and believes it could well have belonged to a priest from the nearby Minster.
Speaking to the Burton Mail, Staples said:
“It is a superb example of the craftsmanship of the time. Only high-ranking figures such as bishops or nobility would have been able to afford a ring of such high quality featuring fine decorative engraving and faceting.”
Day described how he found the ring, knowing immediately he had found something of significance, and that the object was not buried too deep but quite near the surface. He also pointed out that Beverley Minster could be seen clearly from the field, adding authenticity to the find.
An avid detectorist, Day has uncovered some interesting artefacts over the years, from a Bronze Age axe to a Celtic brooch, and is more likely to find an old engraved beer tankard than a solid gold bishop’s ring. Day said he began shaking when he realised what he had found, and says the ring is his best find yet. It is estimated to fetch around £8,000 to £10,000 at auction.
