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  • Britain's Secret Treasures on ITV

    by
    R2tag
    Published on 05-05-2012 07:49 PM
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    Britain's Secret Treasures on ITV to follow experts as they judge the merits of antiquities discovered in the UK in the last 15 years, ITV are doing filming around the uk to find the finders of these wonderful treasures.

    Britain’s Secret Treasures promises to bring together community history, British heritage, human interest, a little detective work... and some serious treasure. Every year, more than 90,000 finds ranging from jewellery to ancient coins to religious artefacts are reported to the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme. And this year 2012 sees the scheme’s 15th birthday, and the recording of almost 1 million objects found by our public. In a year when we’re all celebrating what it means to be British, and in association with the British Museum, we’re counting down the 50 most interesting finds – and how their stories have shaped our past and the nation we are today.

    One such find that was filmed was a "Seal Matrix" found by a good friend of mine in Surrey, the presenter of BST was Mary Ann Ochota & she talks to Tony about his fascinating find & one not to be missed on Britain’s Secret Treasures in July.

    Tony Burke a Metal-detecting enthusiast from Cobham, who found the seal, said: "It is the most significant find I have ever made. As soon as I saw it I could see it was important.
    "I referred it to the local historian in Surrey and the finds officer, David Williams, and it was identified as coming from Stone.
    "The British Library has confirmed it as being significant and the seal was made in at least the 13th century."
    The three-inch seal bears the inscription, in Latin: "Church of St Mary and St Wulfade, Matyr of Stone". It was used to prove letters carried the authority of the priory.
    Cobham-based historian Dr David Taylor, 64, said: "It is very important and was unique to the priory. It is like your PIN number at the bank."
    How it came to be in Cobham is unclear, but it is believed the seal could have been taken to Newark Abbey in Surrey after the Stone priory was closed in 1537, during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries.
    Dr Taylor added: "When Newark Abbey was dissolved a short time later, it was acquired by Sir Thomas Browne.
    "It is very possible that it fell into his hands, or to his servant George Bigley, who lived in the manor at Cobham."
    Dominic Combe, 56, owns the land where the find was made.
    He said: "All these assets, including the priory, were sold off by a king who had spent all his cash.
    "To find something so rare and special, which connects with somewhere as far away as Staffordshire, is wonderful."
    Philip Leason, 59, an expert on Stone's history, said: "I'm delighted the people of Stone will be able to see this important artefact and I'd like to thank the owners for allowing the seal to come here on loan.

    To see the full story on Tony's find you will have to watch Britain’s Secret Treasures on ITV to be broadcast in July of this year by presenters Michael Buerk and Bettany Hughes..


    seal matrix to be on Britain’s Secret Treasures
    This article was originally published in forum thread: Britain's Secret Treasures on ITV started by R2tag View original post