This 17th-Century ‘Lovers’ Ring’ Unearthed in England Is Marked by a Romantic Inscription
Found near a historic property in Lancashire, the ring represents a history of affectionate gifts
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A centuries-old romantic ring, engraved on the inside with the words “Present my affection,” has been discovered by a metal detectorist in northern England. Found in 2023 near Lancashire’s Whittington Hall, the artifact is now on display at the Lancaster City Museum.
“Whittington, which was once the head of a medieval lordship, is under-represented in the museum collections, so the museums are very pleased to have been able to acquire this ring,” says Lancaster City Councilor Nick Wilkinson in a statement to the Lancaster Guardian’s Michelle Blade.
Whittington Hall, an English national heritage site, is a grand country house that was built in the 19th century for a member of Parliament. It was constructed on the site of an older residence: Whittington Hall’s fireplace—kept from the original house—is said to date back to around 1500.
An unnamed metal detectorist found the golden “posy ring” on the sprawling grounds of Whittington. In addition to its clear inscription inside, the slightly misshapen piece is engraved with a decorative design on the outside. According to a Facebook post by Lancaster City Council, it was made between about 1650 and 1750.
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Posy rings are named for their poetic, romantic inscriptions, usually engraved inside the band so that the message hugged the wearer’s skin. Also called “lovers’ rings,” they became popular during the medieval period as romantic tokens. Back then, romantic rings weren’t just given to signify marriage, but were common gifts exchanged at various stages of relationships.
“The ring holds a mystery,” writes the council, adding that nobody knows who it belonged to or how it came to be buried near Whittington Hall, but “objects like this bring centuries of human connection to life.”
When treasure is found in England, it legally must be turned over to the government, which can then sell it to museums. Those proceeds are then divided between the treasure’s finders and the owner of the land it was found on. In the case of the posy ring, Whittington Hall’s current owner, Lord Reay, waived his share of the reward, reports the Lancaster Guardian.
The posy ring moved to the government-run Lancaster City Museum, where it went on display, fittingly, on February 14.
“The museum collections preserve our heritage, helping us to understand who we are, where we have come from and what makes this area special,” says Wilkinson. “It is important that they represent the whole of the district, so I am delighted that we can unveil this centuries-old token of love and affection from Whittington on Valentine’s Day.”
