This cast copper alloy crotal bell was discovered by Yanne near an old disused trackway in the Surrey Hills. Complete with its hollow body and internal ringer called a pee, it would once have produced a clear, chiming sound when shaken or in motion.
Crotal bells were commonly used in the 17th and 18th centuries, attached to horse harnesses, carts and sleighs. Their distinctive jingle served both a practical and symbolic role, warning of an approaching wagon or team of horses, while also acting as a charm to ward off misfortune. Some were used on livestock to help farmers locate animals grazing in the fields.
Surrey, with its mix of farmland, woodland and market routes, would have seen many such bells in daily use. Trackways like the one where this example was found were once busy with carts carrying produce to local markets or travellers moving between villages.
Though now a classic “detectorist’s find,” each bell carries its own story and chime. This one links directly to the rhythms of rural Surrey life, where the sound of jingling bells once marked the passage of people, animals and goods along the same paths we walk today.
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