A metal detectorist has discovered an 18th-century gold mourning ring in a field near Thetford, Norfolk. Malcolm Weale, 53, found the ring in August after searching the area for 18 months. The ring is in very good condition and features a tiny skull, believed to be a reminder of mortality.
It is linked to the Gawdy family, ancestors of the Gawdy Hall Estate in Harleston. The ring is thought to have been created in memory of Sir Bassingbourne Gawdy, the 3rd Baronet of Harling, who died in a hunting accident in 1723 at the age of 56. Mr.
Weale described the moment he spotted the ring: “There it was, a glint of pure gold, shiny as the day it was dropped, six inches down in the mud.” He emphasized the rarity of being able to identify the owner of such a find.
Gawdy family gold mourning ring
The gold and enamel ring was among many discoveries made by Mr.
Weale, including medieval silver coins, modern coins, vape ring pulls, and shotgun caps. He has been a detectorist since the age of seven and has previously unearthed treasures such as a hoard of late Roman coins, other gold rings, and various pieces of jewelry. The ring will now be taken to the British Museum for valuation to determine the compensation for the finder and landowner. Mr.
Weale’s extensive experience in metal detecting has led to numerous significant finds, including a gold memorial ring, a medieval silver ring fragment, and a unique Viking penny minted for Guthrum, a Viking warlord who ruled East Anglia in the 870s after converting to Christianity. The Gawdy family is believed to have descended from Sir Brews Gawdey, a French knight captured during the Hundred Years War. After being taken prisoner in 1352, it appears he was naturalized and settled in Suffolk, near the Norfolk-Suffolk border where the Gawdy Hall estate is located.
This remarkable discovery sheds light on the rich history hidden beneath Norfolk’s fields and the enduring allure of metal detecting.
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