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VERVEL
Unique ID: HAMP3205
Object type certainty: Possibly
Workflow
status: Published 
Small flat annular disc made of silver. Apparently punched from a sheet. Circular with large central circular perforation. Inscribed on both sides; one side reads; *Will. Earle of Bedford; the other reads; *at Wooborne Abby. Slightly bent.
The object is a vervel, recording the owner's name and place of abode. Vervels were used to connect the leather jesses (thongs) attached to a hawk's legs to the leash which tied the bird to its block, or permitted a greater range of movement when on the glove. Vervels generally record the owner's name on on one side and place of origin on the other, as here, but occassionally only record the owner's name.
Published exampels in Norfolk and others in the British Museum help to date this piece (see S Margeson and D Gaimster, 'A post medieval silver hawking vervel', Norfolk Archaeology, XI, part III, 1989, pp. 326-37). This vervel is assumed to be associated with William Russell, 5th Earl of Bedford (1613 - 1700), whose family home was at Woburn Abbey, in Bedfordshire.
Notes:
The age and precious metal content of this find meet the criteria for Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996.
Inscription:
*Will. Earle of Bedford // at Wooborne Abby
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Declared Treasure but returned to Finder as Museum unable to acquire
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2003T58
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1641
Date to: Circa AD 1700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 0.5 mm
Weight: 0.62 g
Diameter: 12 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 8th October 2002
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: NFR/338
Treasure case number: 2003T58
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Hampshire (County)
District: Test Valley (District)
Parish or ward: Kings Somborne (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU3632
Four figure Latitude: 51.086192
Four figure longitude: -1.487395
1:25K map: SU3632
1:10K map: SU33SE
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaimster, D.R.M. and Margeson, S. | 1989 | A post-medieval silver hawking vervel | Norwich | Norfolk Archaeology | 326-27 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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