Ring from 1600s declared 'treasure'

Gold and crystal ring unearthed by metal detectorist

A 350 year old gold and crystal ring which could have been created in memory of a former Lord of Man has been declared ‘treasure’.

The Stuart-period mourning ring was discovered in the south of the Island, in December last year, by a metal detectorist and dates to the mid to late AD 1600s.

According to Manx National Heritage this type of jewellery was sometimes distributed at funerals to commemorate the person who had died and usually included their initials.

The gold ring is 21.5mm in diameter with a 12mm diameter crystal stone – it also features gold lettering of the initial capital letters J and D.

Each shoulder is decorated with an engraving of a leaf inlaid with black enamel.

 
Allison Fox, curator for archaeology at Manx National Heritage, says: "The ring is small and quite delicate in form but of a high quality and intact.

"The quality suggests that it was made for, or on behalf of, an individual of high status. 

"It is unlikely that we will be able to establish for certain who owned the ring, or whom it commemorated, but there is a possibility that it may have been associated with the Stanley family, previously Lords of Man. 

"The initials JD may refer to James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby and Lord of Man, a supporter of the Royalist cause in the Civil War.

"Letters and documents from the time show that he signed his named as J Derby, so the initials JD would be appropriate for him."

James Stanley was executed by the Parliamentarians in October 1651 and his wife Charlotte, Lady Derby, was keen to ensure his name was remembered.

 
The ring was discovered by Lee Morgan who has history of finding buried treasure.

In 2013 he discovered a hoard of silver coins dating to around AD 1320 and in 2019 he discovered a silver ingot dating to between AD 950 and 1075.

When archaeological artefacts are uncovered there is a legal requirement to report them to Manx National Heritage.

If they fall under the categories in the Treasure Act 2017 they must also be reported to the Coroner of Inquests.

If the find is declared as 'treasure' a financial reward is usually paid to the finder and to the landowner.

The ring will now go on display at the Manx Museum prior to travelling off island for review by the Treasure Valuation Committee.