Treasure found in Pembrokeshire

Two treasure finds, a gold annular brooch of medieval date and a post-medieval silver bell, were declared treasure on Thursday 14^th July 2022 by Mr Paul Bennett, Senior Coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

The medieval gold annular brooch (Treasure Case 21.13) was discovered by Mr O.E. Thomas while metal detecting on a pasture field in Mathry Community, Pembrokeshire on 11^th April 2021. The brooch is decorated with six tubular settings or collets on a circular frame, one contains a cabochon stone. The brooch dates from the late thirteenth or fourteenth century.

Sian Iles, Curator of Medieval and Later Archaeology, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales comments:

“This gold brooch is a fine example of a type popular in the thirteenth and fourteenth- centuries, which used gemstone and glass as decorative settings. Thanks to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the provisions of the Treasure Act, finds such as this are recorded, contributing greatly to our growing understanding of fashion in medieval Wales’.

Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales would like to acquire the brooch for their collection, following its independent valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee.

The small silver bell of late medieval or early post-medieval date (Treasure Case 19.18) was discovered by Howard Gooding and Layton Davies in late July 2019, whilst metal detecting on ploughed land in Stackpole & Castlemartin Community, Pembrokeshire. The bell, once spherical but now flattened, is formed of two parts soldered together with decorative banding around the circumference. Bells of this type were likely used as dress accessories and are also sometimes associated with falconry.

Tenby Museum & Art Gallery is interested in acquiring the bell for their collection, following an independent valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee.