Medieval rings uncovered in fields to be auctioned

Two 15th Century rings discovered by a metal detectorist in North Yorkshire are to be auctioned next week.

Andrew Riley, 71, struck gold twice in the space of four months when he found the medieval rings at a farm near Northallerton.

The rings, one of which has been named the 'blood of Christ' ring by auctioneers and the other an iconographic ring of St Margaret of Antioch, could fetch more than £10,000 at auction.

Riley, who plans to split the proceeds with the landowner, said he was so shocked after the discoveries he had to "lie down".

Riley, who lives near Middlesbrough, started metal detecting in the 1990s and took the hobby up again around four years ago after a hiatus.

Throughout his career as an architect, Riley often worked with farmers, who gave him permission to detect on their land.

"I've been lucky because most of the places I go, I know [the landowners] already. I'm not approaching them cold," he explained.

Riley and his friend often detected on the farm adjacent to the one where he found the rings, and always hoped he might get permission to search there one day.

After the farm changed hands, Riley approached the new owner and asked permission to detect on the land. Luckily for Riley, the farmer was a detectorist himself and agreed.

By March 2024, Riley had spent several weeks "methodically" searching an untouched field when he finally discovered the 'blood of Christ' ring.

He said: "It was about eight inches (20cm) deep, just laying on top of the soil after I had removed the clod. I thought it was just costume jewellery at first until I saw the inscription. I was on my own at the time so ran up to the farmhouse to show the landowner."

Just four months later, Riley returned to the farm on a hot summer's evening, this time searching a different and freshly ploughed field.

After believing he had fallen short, Riley was ready to return home empty-handed – but luck was on his side.

Riley said: "I found an Elizabeth I sixpence followed by some mystery silver chain links. As soon as I saw the glint of gold in the soil, I knew straight away what I had found and took some photos in situ, did the obligatory gold dance and then had a lie down in shock!"

Due to the weight of the rings, it didn't take long for Riley to realise he had quite literally struck gold.

Riley took the rings to a Finds Liaison Officer in Durham, where they were both examined. An inquest was then held at Northallerton Coroner's Court and the rings were formally declared treasure.

They are expected to yield between £5,000 and £7,000, and £4,000 and £6,000 respectively at a Noonans Mayfair auction on 22 September.

Laura Smith, a jewellery specialist at the auction house, said the rings were "two beautiful examples" of medieval jewellery.

Smith said St Margaret of Antioch was a mythical figure often associated with childbirth, adding: "For women, childbirth was a particularly treacherous undertaking and this stunning iconographic ring would have been worn by a woman who would have called upon St Margaret when she needed succour and support in her most difficult hours".

The 'blood of Christ' ring "illustrates how central Christian piety was to medieval life", Smith said, adding the condition it was found in decades later demonstrated "how bright and striking such jewellery would have been in its original form".

Despite his recent strokes of luck, Riley did warn prospective detectorists that his findings were exactly that – luck.

He added: "If this does get people keen on metal detecting, don't go and buy a metal detector and instantly think you're going to go and find a load of treasure because it doesn't work like that.

"Most of the time, you end up with a bag full of bits of aluminium and lead and general farm debris".

"It doesn't matter how sophisticated your metal detector is, if something is there and you walk over it, you'll likely find it. It's complete luck", Riley said.

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