The Portable Antiquities Scheme

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Medieval cast copper alloy spherical bell with an integral loop at the top and openwork lower section. The loop is crudely cast with a circular hole through it. The upper (solid) part of the bell has three regularly spaced moulded squared topped and round based shields each within a circle. Between the circles and the shields are raised hatching and on each shield is a displayed eagle (on the left) impaling three chevrons (on the right). The lower half of the bell was openwork consisting of curved eight bars continuing the spherical shape with openings between them. The openings have curved top edges. Most of the bars are broken at the top with only stubs remaining. One appears complete and tapers to a point, the other is broken at the end but is wider, probably due to slight mis-casting to one side. Assuming all eight were similar to the complete example they would have left a central opening at the base. In the interior is one stub of a separate copper alloy wire loop from which the clapper would have been suspended. The rest of the loop was found within mud compacted inside the bell. The clapper was missing and the rest of the arms are lost to old breaks. It is now 35.4mm tall including the loop and 30.3mm in maximum circumference, it weighs 25.39 grams. The metal is very silvery suggesting a high tin content.

These items have caused some confusion over the years and they are not published in the usual sources although several have been recorded on the database. An example from Suffolk complete with clapper suggests they are definitely bells (SF-A43191) and several others have been recorded as such: NLM-FE7B62, IOW-D712F1, SOMDOR-0B1D95, SF-BC7AB1, SWYOR-F0F196. On these records it is recorded the arms were identified by Edward Martin (SCCAS). These are probably the arms of Ralph de Monthermer, Earl of Gloucester and Hereford, and his first wife Joan of Acre (daughter of King Edward I and widow of Gilbert de Clare), who he married in 1297; she died in 1307. Ralph de Monthermer's arms are or, an eagle displayed vert, and the right hand half of the shield depicts half an eagle, Joan of Acre used the arms of Gilbert de Clare, her first husband, which were or, three chevrons gules, and the left side of the shield depicts half of three chevrons. There are problems with this identification, as a widow rather than a heiress Joan of Acre should have given up her first husbands arms upon marriage.

The bells have a close similarity to a range of cast copper-alloy lead filled steelyard weights of the late 13th century (see, for example SOM-FDCC33) and the shield designs also echo those seen on the weights. It is therefore suggested they are, like the weights, the arms of Edmund (1249-1300), Earl of Cornwall, the double-headed eagle, the symbol of the Holy Roman Empire, following his election as King of the Romans (ibid.). impaled with his wife Margaret de Clare. They married in 1272 suggesting a terminus post quem.

No references cited so far.

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Created: Monday 10th January 2011
Updated: Friday 14th October 2011