Jewel-encrusted 15th Century ring discovered by treasure hunter at Wolf Hall

[Neil]

 
By Lucy Crossley     Updated: 14:20, 9 July 2015

A jewel-encrusted ring discovered by an amateur treasure hunter at a monastery once owned by Henry VIII's advisor Thomas Cromwell is expected to sell for £30,000 when it is auctioned this afternoon.
 
The 15th Century 'love ring' was uncovered by an enthusiast with a metal detector near Launde Abbey in Leicestershire - a manor house on land owned by Cromwell, who was immortalised in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall novels, and this year's hit BBC adaptation.
 
The stunning piece of jewellery is an early example of a love and marriage ring, with the bond between husband and wife symbolised by two different gems - here a point-cut diamond and a rounded ruby.
 
The 15th Century 'love ring' was uncovered by an enthusiast with a metal detector near Launde Abbey in Leicestershire (pictured) - a manor house on land once owned by Cromwell
 
It was discovered in 2013 by the amateur treasure hunter, who lives close to Elizabethan manor house Launde Abbey and has chosen to remain anonymous.
 
The land where the Abbey, now a Christian retreat and conference centre, stands had been home to a large and wealthy Augustinian Priory since the 12th century.
 
Cromwell was so impressed by the building and particularly its location that while he was surveying it as he oversaw the dissolution of the monasteries for the king that he presented it to himself, writing in his diary: 'Myself for Launde'.
 
Cromwell  was so impressed by the building and particularly its location that while he was surveying it as he oversaw the dissolution of the monasteries for the king that he presented it to himself
 
Building work on a new house at the site was started in 1540, but Cromwell's execution that same year prevented him from ever moving in.
 
Instead his son Gregory and his wife Elizabeth Seymour, the sister of Henry VIII’s third wife Jane Seymour, lived there.
 
The ring is to go on sale at auction house Sotheby's in London this afternoon, along with several pieces of 15th century jewellery.
 
Erik Bijzet, Sotheby's Old Master Sculpture & Works of Art specialist, said: 'The movement of wealthy patrons around a major monastery, the violence with which the rich institution must have been taken for the Crown, and the importance of the subsequent inhabitants are all reasons for a ring of this significance to have been deposited in its vicinity.'

[wittsy1]

Beautiful. I can only dream.

[dingdong]

Absolutely! SPECTACULAR!!...... What a find,how would YOU react to finding that ?

[Chef Geoff]

It sold for £35k

[stever]

wow what a find 

[probono]

Fantastic find, probably cheap at the price too with the medieval diamond and ruby.

Just wish that journos could sort out their facts - Wolf Hall didn't belong to Cromwell - it belonged to the Seymours and is in a completely different area of the country from where this ring was found - i.e at a place owned by Cromwell.....