Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

17th century ring found in Roydon field set to go under the hammer




A 17th century gold ring – found by a metal detectorist in a Roydon field – could fetch around £14,000 at a Mayfair auction house tomorrow.

The find, which was made by Alan Rumsby, will go under the hammer at Noonans Mayfair’s jewellery, watches, silver and objects of vertu sale..

The experts at the London auctioneers estimate that it could go for between £14,000 to £16,000.

The Ashfield Ring. Picture: Noonans
The Ashfield Ring. Picture: Noonans

The discovery was made by the 75-year-old retired carpenter from Norwich on October 4, 2020, in a stubble field in the village.

“I have never found anything made of gold in over 10 years of detecting,” he said. “So I was really excited.”

Mr Rumsby had searched the area several times before with no success, but this time, hidden around nine inches in the ground, was the ring.

Detectorist Alan Rumsby
Detectorist Alan Rumsby

He added: “It was only after it was taken to a museum that I realised how significant the discovery was.”

The ring is historically important, according to Nigel Mills, an artefact and coin expert at Noonans, due its bespoke design. It is likely to have been worn by a woman.

“The coat of arms on the lozenge-shaped ring is divided into four sections, each representing her ancestral family heritage, namely Ashfield, Tendring, Botelier and finally Mapersall,” he said.

“The five-pointed star in the centre of the arms represents a third son, so we believe the ring was owned by Dorothy Ashfield, who was born in 1594 as the eldest daughter of the third son, Thomas Ashfield, of Hopton in Suffolk, and his wife, Ellen Holditch, of Ranworth in Norfolk.

“The find spot is close to the old hall of Brockdish, which was owned by John Tendring, whose family arms appears on the second quadrant of the ring bezel as a fess (horizontal band) with a crescent between two chevrons.

“The name Ashfield originates in Suffolk and Shropshire, meaning a field with ash trees.”

Although the British Museum in London had originally declared an interest in acquiring the ring, it has since been classified as ‘disclaimed’, meaning Mr Rumsby can sell it at auction, with a share of the money going to him and the landowner.

When asked what he would do with his half, Mr Rumsby said he would take his wife on holiday.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More