Period: Medieval

Date of Discovery: 10^th September 2017

Circumstances of discovery: Metal detecting on cultivated land

Description: an incomplete silver-gilt fragment of a possible vervel. The object is rectangular in plan and bears the remains of a coat of arms: the right half of a silver cross with frilled edges in the top and bottom gilded quarters with the possible remains of niello in the frills, all within an incised line border. The reverse of the object has been decorated with an incised pattern within an incised line border, depicting two lions rampant-couchant.

Dimensions: 16.89mm in length, 8.98mm in width, 1.76mm in thickness and 1.87g in weight.

Discussion: the coat of arms depicted on the face of the object is that of William, 5^th Lord Willoughby of Eresby, Lincolnshire, who was born between AD 1370 to 1375 and died in AD 1409 (Ancestry 2008).

The object itself has been tentatively identified as a vervel owing to its size and similarity to other examples of vervels depicting a coat of arms. As discussed by Woodward (2017) vervels were used to attach a hawk or falcon's leather jesses to a leash or perch, which allowed for training or securing the bird. Vervels were often inscribed or decorated to enable identification of the bird's owner.

Examples of possible vervels recorded on the PAS database that are both double sided and depict a coat of arms include: a Post Medieval example with the royal arms on one face and the arms of Charles Brandon, the 1st Duke of Suffolk on the other face, found in Colney, Norfolk (Ashley 2012); another Post Medieval example depicting the coat of arms of the Dukes of Norfolk on one face and the name 'T NORFOCK' on the other face was found in Foy, Herefordshire (Reavill 2007). Two other Post Medieval examples of possible vervels inscribed on both sides include one belonging to Francis Mannock of Gifford's Hall in Stoke by Nayland, found in Foulsham, Norfolk (Darch 2009); and one found in Isley cum Langley, Leicestershire the owner of which is illegible but appears to have resided in Nottingham.

Owing to the evidence provided by the coat of arms this object can be dated to the late 14^th to early 15^th centuries AD. However, its identification as a vervel is less sure. Whilst the dimensions are similar to other examples of vervels recorded on the PAS database, the majority of those recorded have been dated to the Post Medieval period and have been identified as possible vervels or harness pendants. Therefore the identification of this object is open to interpretation.

Conclusion: in conclusion, this object constitutes a prima facie case of treasure by consisting of more than 10% precious metal content in that it is silver and gold, and is of an antiquity greater than 300 years.

References:

Ancestry (2008) My Lines Person Page

Web page available at: <a href="http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/p427.htm">http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/p427.htm</a>

[Accessed: 21 Sept 2017 11:20]

Westwood, B (2017) DUR-775EF0: A Post Medieval Vervel from Hutton Conyers, North Yorkshire

Web page available at: <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/841599">https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/841599</a>

[Accessed: 23 Nov 2017 10:33:15]

Ashley, S (2012) NMS-F2EEC6: A Post Medieval Verve from Colney, Norfolk

Web page available at: <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/535977">https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/535977</a>

[Accessed: 12 Oct 2017 14:23:49]

Reavill, P (2007) HESH-A49557: A Post Medieval Vervel from Foy, Herefordshire

Web page available at: <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/196455">https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/196455</a>

[Accessed: 12 Oct 2017 14:31:40]

Darch, E (2009) NMS-1E9786: A Post Medieval Vervel from Foulsham, Norfolk

Web page available at: <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/260916">https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/260916</a>

[Accessed: 12 Oct 2017 14:38:17]

Scott, W (2012) LEIC-EA5812: A Post Medieval Vervel from Isley cum Langley, Leicestershire

Web page available at: <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/481093">https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/481093</a>

[Accessed: 12 Oct 2017 14:44:58]