Artefacts found in Wrexham declared as treasure at inquest

Kate Sutherland, Assistant Coroner for North Wales (East & Central) declared the eight items as treasure at County Hall, Ruthin on Tuesday (March 21).

Four of the finds were discovered across Wrexham, with the remaining four coming from Conwy and Denbighshire. 

A medieval gold fede ring was discovered by Paul Davis on April 12, 2021 while metal-detecting in a field under pasture in Bronington Community, Wrexham.

The ring found by Paul Davis in Wrexham. (Image: National Museum of Wales)

The ring, of later 15th-century date, forms part of a coin and finger-ring hoard previously reported as treasure, known as the Bronington Hoard, which was deposited after 1465 during the Wars of the Roses.

Four silver coins of Charles I were discovered on June 20, 2021 by Eric Faulkner, David Molyneux, Chris Jones and Gordania Mitchell in a field in Esclusham Community, Wrexham during a metal-detecting rally.

Silver coins found in Wrexham. (Image: National Museum of Wales)

The coins, two shillings and two sixpences, were buried after 1641 during the English Civil Wars.

Wrexham County Borough Museum and Archives has expressed an interest in acquiring this find, and the medieval gold fede ring,  for their collection, following their independent valuation through the Treasure Valuation Committee.

A gold lock-ring was discovered by Chris Wood in September 2018 while metal-detecting on a ploughed field in Holt Community, Wrexham.

The find was first reported to Susie White, the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS Cymru) Finds Officer for North-East Wales. It dates to the Late Bronze Age and was made nearly three thousand years ago (1000-800 BCE).

The gold lock-ring found in Wrexham (Image: National Museum of Wales)

Dr Susie White, PAS Cymru Finds Officer for North Wales, said: “As soon as the finder contacted me about this object, I knew it was something special. Objects like this don’t turn up very often and this is a first for me. It was really nice to be able to record something so beautiful, even in its slightly crumpled state”.

Adam Gwilt, Principal Curator for Prehistory at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, reporting on the find for the coroner, said: “The quality of the decoration on this artefact is impressive and it begs the question ‘how did its maker, an expert goldsmith, manage to expertly hand scribe 79 concentric circles on a gold sheet just four centimetres wide?’.

"The resulting visual effect, created across the surface of this golden ornament, suggests this was once a highly valued possession. It would have marked out the wearer, female or male, to be a well-connected person of high standing within their community.”

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Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales has expressed an interest in acquiring this treasure find, following its independent valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee.

Also declared treasure at the inquest in Ruthin yesterday (Tuesday) were:

• A medieval silver buckle-plate and a silver coin were discovered on June 16, 2020 by Ian Cox, while metal-detecting on rough grazing land in Henryd Community, Conwy.

The silver buckle-plate, intricately decorated with an openwork design of Gothic tracery, was once attached to a silk girdle or belt belonging to a person of higher standing.

The worn coin, a silver penny of Richard II (1377-1399), was inserted into the open end of the buckle-plate and suggests the two objects were lost in the early 15th-century.

Conwy Culture Centre has expressed an interest in acquiring this find for their collection, following their independent valuation through the Treasure Valuation Committee.

• A medieval silver terminal fragment, discovered by Paul Hughes on September 23, 2020, while metal-detecting on land under pasture in Trefriw Community, Conwy.

This decorative item with an openwork plant and leaves design dates to the 15th century.

Conwy Culture Centre has expressed an interest in acquiring this artefact for its collection. 

• Two clipped 17th Century silver coins of James I and Charles I, discovered by Mick Brady on October 17, 2020, while metal-detecting on cultivated land in Aberwheeler Community, Denbighshire.

• A gold posy-ring of late 17th- or early 18th-century date, discovered by Norman Clacher on June 13, 2021 in a field under pasture in Esclusham Community, Wrexham, during a metal-detecting rally. The ring has an internal surface inscription which reads ‘Gods providence is our inheritance’.

•  A medieval silver ring fragment, discovered by Jamie Larkin on August 10, 2022 in a field under arable in Llandegla Community, Denbighshire, during a metal-detecting rally.

The ring, with repeating incised decoration and panelled design, probably dates to the 15th century.

Denbighshire Museums Service has expressed an interest in acquiring the ring for its collection.