PAS Finds

PAS Finds: week ended 23 September 2022

PAS Finds: week ended 23 September 2022

My selection of the detecting finds recorded at the PAS in the week ended 23 September 2022; a relatively quiet week for recorded finds.

Featured Find

Mourning ring of Charles Tooker

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By SA2.0
Object type: Ampulla
Period: Anglo-Saxon
Primary material: Bronze
Date found: 01/11/2014
Location: All Cannings, Wiltshire

A gold an enamel mourning ring (memento mori). The inscription reads C : Tooker : ob : 23 : July : 1716 : cet : 38. There is a memorial to Charles Tooker in the Parish Church, Christchurch, East Kennett, Wiltshire which matches this date and age. The memorial had been erected by Ann Saunders of Mingwel.

Charles Tooker owned East Kennett manor, which is about 6 miles from the find site. He had inherited this from his father, also Charles, in 1700. There is also a memorial to his father in the same church and a tablet located on the West Wall records that reads “CHARLES TOOKER ESQR SETTLED £50 A YEAR ISUUING OUT OF HIS ESTATE AT EAST KENNETT (CLEAR OF ALL DEDUCTIONS) ON THE MINISTER OF THIS PARISH FOR EVER. THIS BENEFACTION WAS ALLOWED AND CONFIRMED BY DEED”

On Charles’ death, he devised East Kennet manor to a John Saunders. There is presumably a family connection between Charles, Ann Saunders (Charle’s mother was called Ann) and John Saunders.

The ring was found in 2014 and reported to the Surrey FLO. For some reason it was not recorded on the PAS at the time. As it was less than 300 years old when found it does not qualify as treasure under the Treasure Act.

Selection of other finds

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By SA2.0

Viking stirrup-strap mount

A Viking stirrup mount depicting a bull’s head thought to date to the 11th century. There are 12 examples of this type on the PAS but this is the first from Cornwall and has been designated a Find of Note of County Importance. It was lot 0385 in the Timeline auction on 6 September 2022 where it fetched £1,300.
Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By SA2.0

Medieval pilgrim badge

The pilgrim badge is of a male figure including a garlanded head with beard, thought to be Jesus or John the Baptist.
Photo: Bristol City Council CC By SA2.0

Silver thimble

A silver thimble. missing its dome top, dating to 1625-1700. It is engraved with the letters KC. It is currently being considered for Treasure.
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