Latest news with #Geake
BBC News
21-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Thetford gold ring find remembers 'rackety' baronet
A gold mourning ring that was made in memory of a dead baronet has been found in a 20mm (0.7in)-round jewel was discovered by a metal detectorist near Thetford, Norfolk, in Helen Geake was able to connect it to landowner Sir Bassingbourne Gawdy thanks to its inscription. He was a "notable sportsman" who researchers said liked "rackety exploits".The ring is the subject of a treasure inquest and Norwich Castle Museum hopes to acquire it. A coroner at a treasure inquest typically decides whether the discovery is treasure, and therefore whether a museum should have first refusal over Bassingbourne died in a hunting accident in 1723.A baronet was a title in the British aristocracy that was passed down through families. Dr Geake, who is the finds liaison officer for Norfolk, said mourning rings were made to remember a person who had would leave money in their wills for rings to be created and distributed to family and friends in their politician Samuel Pepys wrote about being given one in his 1660s diary. This find was inscribed in Latin B.G. Bart. ob: 10. Oct: 1723. aet: 56, which translates as B.G. Baronet, died 10th October 1723, aged Geake's investigations revealed Sir Bassingbourne lived at West Harling, east of never married and was described as a "notable sportsman" who enjoyed "rackety exploits" by the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. "What is also interesting is he was the grandson of the celebrated painter Sir John Gawdy, who was born deaf," Dr Geake said. He and his brother Framlingham, who was also deaf, were the first known deaf people in Britain to be educated through the use of sign language, according to the British Deaf History Society. Dr Geake said the ring would not have been classed as treasure if it had been found a year is because the Treasure Act 1996 categorises a find as treasure if it is at least 300 years old and made at least in part of precious metal, like gold or if the ring had been found in August 2023 - not August 2024 - the detectorist and landowner would not have had to declare it. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Call for historians to solve medieval seal mystery
A treasure expert is appealing for local historians to solve a mystery around the owner of a medieval seal matrix. The 13th or 14th Century silver matrix - used to stamp an impression on wax seals - was discovered by a detectorist in March last year near Hedenham, Norfolk, Its inscription reveals it was the "Seal of John of Hedenham", but Norfolk's finds liaison officer Helen Geake said: "It's really difficult to find out who this person was." "I hope someone in the village might do a bit of investigation, including looking at the lists of parish priests to find out more about him," she said. The seal was found close to the village where he once lived, Dr Geake added. "I've reached the limit of what I can do, without being a specialist in the local history of Hedenham," she said. One source that might prove useful is the list of parish priests, but she said very few of them are put online, so it requires a visit to the church. "Of course, he might not be a vicar, but if so, we can rule that out," she said. Dr Geake has discovered a John of Hedenham witnessed a deed, but the document is undated. If it was signed before the 13th Century or after the 14th Century, it could have an entirely different man - added to which "there are masses of Johns" in the Middle Ages, she explained. The 23mm by 18.8mm find is only the fifth flat shield-shaped silver seal matrix to be recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database since it began in 1997. Its owner would have used the matrix to stamp an impression on wax to authenticate documents. Dr Geake added: "It's not unusual to find medieval seals with a place name, but it's not common to find them in the very village, because it's more likely you'd lose them when you were travelling." The find is the subject of a treasure inquest and Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is hoping to acquire it. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Bishop's medieval coin brooch found in field 'Magical' medieval gold brooch found by detectorist Medieval monk's 'unique' seal matrix found Reporting treasure, Norfolk County Council
BBC News
22-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Help needed to identify Hedenham owner of medieval seal
A treasure expert is appealing for local historians to solve a mystery around the owner of a medieval seal matrix. The 13th or 14th Century silver matrix - used to stamp an impression on wax seals - was discovered by a detectorist in March last year near Hedenham, Norfolk, Its inscription reveals it was the "Seal of John of Hedenham", but Norfolk's finds liaison officer Helen Geake said: "It's really difficult to find out who this person was.""I hope someone in the village might do a bit of investigation, including looking at the lists of parish priests to find out more about him," she said. The seal was found close to the village where he once lived, Dr Geake added. "I've reached the limit of what I can do, without being a specialist in the local history of Hedenham," she said. One source that might prove useful is the list of parish priests, but she said very few of them are put online, so it requires a visit to the church."Of course, he might not be a vicar, but if so, we can rule that out," she said. Dr Geake has discovered a John of Hedenham witnessed a deed, but the document is undated. If it was signed before the 13th Century or after the 14th Century, it could have an entirely different man - added to which "there are masses of Johns" in the Middle Ages, she explained. The 23mm by 18.8mm find is only the fifth flat shield-shaped silver seal matrix to be recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database since it began in owner would have used the matrix to stamp an impression on wax to authenticate documents. Dr Geake added: "It's not unusual to find medieval seals with a place name, but it's not common to find them in the very village, because it's more likely you'd lose them when you were travelling."The find is the subject of a treasure inquest and Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is hoping to acquire it. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Elephant and castle' gold seal bought by museum
An unusual medieval gold seal with a gemstone engraved with an elephant carrying a castle on its back has been added to a museum's collection. Discovered by a metal detectorist near King's Lynn, Norfolk, and declared treasure in 2021, it was only the third of its kind recorded by the British Museum. The find has now been acquired by Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery and more information about it has been revealed thanks to a medieval French expert who was able to translate its inscription, initially believed to be in Latin. County finds liaison officer Helen Geake said: "We couldn't make head nor tale of it, but Malcom Jones suggested it was a rhyming couplet in French." The inscription around its circumference reads PARMAT EST ‧ WEVEI ‧ DRA OBEST. Mr Jones said its most likely reading was 'By my head, you have dragon or beast'. "He explained 'by my head' was a relatively common exclamation, meaning something like 'upon my soul'," said Dr Geake. "The inscription could be linked to the engraving because in medieval bestiaries, the dragon is described as the elephant's only foe." Bestiaries were beautifully illustrated manuscripts, like medieval encyclopedias, and are believed to have inspired JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them. However, each creature listed was described in terms of its place within the Christian worldview, rather than as a purely scientific phenomenon. Dr Geake said: "We often forget French is the language of court and chivalry in medieval England and I've always liked rhyming couplets, it remind me of pantos. "It's also a reminder of how rich medieval culture is and how much is lost - this is a hint about what we don't know." Few people in medieval England would have seen a live elephant, although there was one in the royal menagerie at the Tower of London between 1255 and 1257 - a gift from King Louis IX of France to King Henry III. The seal matrix would have been used by its owner to make an impression on wax to authenticate or keep closed letters or documents. The design - showing an elephant with a war-tower or howdah on its back - later became known as the elephant and castle of heraldic iconography. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. What five gold rings found in Norfolk tell us about UK's past 'Magical' medieval gold brooch found by detectorist 'Elephant and castle' gold seal one of only three Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery The Portable Antiquities Scheme
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Elephant and castle' gold seal bought by museum
An unusual medieval gold seal with a gemstone engraved with an elephant carrying a castle on its back has been added to a museum's collection. Discovered by a metal detectorist near King's Lynn, Norfolk, and declared treasure in 2021, it was only the third of its kind recorded by the British Museum. The find has now been acquired by Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery and more information about it has been revealed thanks to a medieval French expert who was able to translate its inscription, initially believed to be in Latin. County finds liaison officer Helen Geake said: "We couldn't make head nor tale of it, but Malcom Jones suggested it was a rhyming couplet in French." The inscription around its circumference reads PARMAT EST ‧ WEVEI ‧ DRA OBEST. Mr Jones said its most likely reading was 'By my head, you have dragon or beast'. "He explained 'by my head' was a relatively common exclamation, meaning something like 'upon my soul'," said Dr Geake. "The inscription could be linked to the engraving because in medieval bestiaries, the dragon is described as the elephant's only foe." Bestiaries were beautifully illustrated manuscripts, like medieval encyclopedias, and are believed to have inspired JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them. However, each creature listed was described in terms of its place within the Christian worldview, rather than as a purely scientific phenomenon. Dr Geake said: "We often forget French is the language of court and chivalry in medieval England and I've always liked rhyming couplets, it remind me of pantos. "It's also a reminder of how rich medieval culture is and how much is lost - this is a hint about what we don't know." Few people in medieval England would have seen a live elephant, although there was one in the royal menagerie at the Tower of London between 1255 and 1257 - a gift from King Louis IX of France to King Henry III. The seal matrix would have been used by its owner to make an impression on wax to authenticate or keep closed letters or documents. The design - showing an elephant with a war-tower or howdah on its back - later became known as the elephant and castle of heraldic iconography. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. What five gold rings found in Norfolk tell us about UK's past 'Magical' medieval gold brooch found by detectorist 'Elephant and castle' gold seal one of only three Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery The Portable Antiquities Scheme
