Detectorist donates ring to local museum
Detectorist Aidan McHale has donated one his finds to Dover Museum. Aidan found the gold mourning ring while detecting in a field near St Margaret’s at Cliffe, Dover on 26 October 2020.
The find was recorded at the PAS as KENT-574634 where it was designated a Find of Note of County Importance. It was inscribed with the date 1712 and so, being gold and more than 300 years old, it qualified as Treasure.
The full inscription on the inner surface of the ring reads “M M obt 24 nov, 1712 at 82” in italic script. The PAS record says that research of the burial records in the area revealed a Mary Matson nee Boreman buried St.James, Dover on the 28th of November 1712. Mary was the wife of John Matson, a prominent local merchant and the Mayor of Dover from 1668-1670.
Aiden said: “I am very pleased to be returning a piece of history back to Dover and having it on display for everyone to see.”
Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Leader of Dover District Council, said: “We’re delighted to accept this donation to the Museum’s collection. As well as being a fine example of a memento mori, the ring is also an important link to one of the town’s most prominent families of the time.”
The ring is is now on display at Dover Museum which is free to visit