Rare Tudor Gold Ring

The Haverfordwest Town Museum  recently took delivery of a rare Tudor gold ring for their collection  thanks to a generous donation from Valero refinery, Pembroke.  The 6.38 gram  gold ring was found by a metal detectorist  at Uzmaston and  Boulston in 2021. The ring dates stylistically between 1550 and 1650 and bears the words ‘ Memento Mori’ a Latin phrase meaning ‘Remember you must die’ and an outline of a skull infilled with cross hatching.

Museum Curator Dr Simon Hancock  explained ‘ such rings, worn by a merchant or member of the gentry reminded the wearer of the brevity of life. This is a very popular theme during the sixteenth and  seventeenth  centuries. The ring was declared treasure  and we are very grateful to Valero for a grant towards the treasure valuation. ‘

Photograph ( left to right:)
Ted Sangster, (chair of Haverfordwest  Castle CIO), Lesley Turner, (museum treasurer), Tim Evans( chair of museum trustees) , Stephen Thornton (Valero), Dr Simon Hancock  (museum curator), Bethany Hope ( museum volunteer and social media manager).