Snake ring is treasure

A unique medieval finger ring featuring two snake heads was among seven items declared treasure by the Nottinghamshire coroner on Friday.

Newark Museum is interested in buying the pieces that were all found in the Advertiser area.

The coroner, Dr Nigel Chapman, said a report from the British Museum said the ring was probably Roman but an exact parallel of the snake heads could not be found.

“It is unique,” he said.

Dr Chapman said the eyes, mouth and lines on the heads on the silver ring, which had been straightened, could be clearly seen.

It was found by a metal detector enthusiast, Jane Woodward, on farmland in Normanton-on-Trent owned by Mr and Mrs Mark Wealthall. The finder did not attend the inquest.

Mr Wealthall (43) said people had been asking to go on the land for years but he always said no.

He gave permission to Jane Woodward, who lives in the Liverpool area, because he was in a good mood that day.

His wife, Mrs Linda Wealthall (46) said the find had whetted her appetite to look for treasure on the land.

“You never know what else is there,” she said.

Dr Chapman said: “It is important that everything is handed in. It is our heritage, our past and it will be displayed at some stage in Newark Museum for everyone to see.

“It is so easy for these bits and pieces to disappear on to the black market and never be seen.”

A silver scent locket with a matrix seal stopper was found on farmland in Rolleston last year by Mr Bill French (67) of Chilwell.

Dr Chapman said the 17th Century heart-shaped locket would have contained perfume and been given to someone as a love token.

Mr French, who has been a metal detector enthusiast for about 25 years, regularly searches for treasure in the Newark area.

Mr French, also found a medieval silver finger ring from the 13th or 14th Century at Kirklington, which was also declared treasure on Friday.

A fragment of a silver medieval buckle from the 13th or 14th Century and a 13th Century medieval silver annular brooch were found on land at Hawton by Mr Adam Dempsey, who did not attend the inquest.

A silver clothing clasp from the 16th Century was found at Farndon. A report from the British Museum said it was a silver gilt hook and eye dress fitting.

An Anglo-Saxon silver and glass setting, probably from a 7th Century pendant, was found in the Fledborough area. Bassetlaw Museum is interested in acquiring it.

Valuations of all the items will be undertaken by experts from the British Museum.

Money from the sale of any of the items will be shared by the finders and the landowners.