Medieval Heraldic Plantagenet Mount

This remarkable medieval heraldic mount was discovered by Murray whilst metal detecting in the Surrey Hills using a Minelab Equinox 900. Although the field had been searched the previous summer, a return visit following a period of wetter weather allowed deeper signals to be detected, ultimately leading to one of the most extraordinary medieval discoveries made by The Bearded Bleepers.

Buried beneath the soil for more than seven centuries, the mount provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of medieval heraldry, while raising intriguing questions about how an object associated with the heir to the English throne came to be lost in a Surrey field. During the reign of Edward I, Surrey formed part of an important royal landscape. Guildford Castle, Banstead, Kingston, Leatherhead and Byfleet were all closely associated with the Crown and lay within the network of royal residences regularly visited by the king and his household. Although there is no evidence directly linking this mount to those royal journeys, its discovery within this historic landscape provides a compelling context for one of the most remarkable medieval heraldic finds yet recorded from Surrey.

Dating to the final quarter of the thirteenth century, the object is a cast copper alloy mount in the form of a heraldic heater-shaped shield. Heraldic mounts such as this displayed coats of arms and were used to proclaim identity, lineage and status during the medieval period. They were typically attached to prestigious objects, although exactly how this example was originally mounted remains uncertain. Unlike many comparable finds, there is no surviving evidence of fixings on the reverse, leaving open the possibility that it once formed part of an item of furniture, a carriage fitting, or even a church monument.

Following careful cleaning, the moulded design became much clearer, revealing three lions passant guardant beneath a five-point label. Although no traces of the original enamel or gilding survive, heraldic evidence has allowed the shield to be reconstructed as it would originally have appeared, displaying three gold lions on a red shield beneath a blue five-point label. In medieval heraldry, a label served as a mark of cadency, distinguishing members of the royal family while preserving the royal arms. Alphonso’s five-point label identified his personal arms as heir apparent during the reign of his father, King Edward I. Learn more about Alphonso Plantagenet

The mount was recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, where it was examined by the Finds Liaison Officer. Comparison with surviving medieval heraldic sources identified the arms as those of Alphonso Plantagenet, Earl of Chester (1273–1284), eldest surviving son of King Edward I and heir apparent to the English throne.

Created Earl of Chester following the death of his elder brother, Alphonso tragically died in 1284 at just ten years of age. The crown eventually passed to his younger brother, the future King Edward II. Because Alphonso’s arms were only used during his short lifetime, surviving objects displaying them are exceptionally rare, allowing this remarkable find to be securely dated to the final quarter of the thirteenth century.

Watch the documentary

Discover the remarkable story behind this unique medieval heraldic mount, from its discovery in the Surrey Hills to its identification through the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme, in our documentary filmed at Guildford Castle. The film explores the forgotten story of Alphonso Plantagenet, the royal landscape of medieval Surrey, and the fascinating journey from an unexpected discovery beneath a field to one of the county’s most remarkable medieval heraldic finds.

Interactive Slider

You can also explore the interactive slider below, showing the mount as it was found alongside a reconstruction highlighting how its heraldic design would originally have appeared.