We’re delighted to see one of our most fascinating metal detecting finds featured in the October issue of Treasure Hunting Magazine, the remarkable medieval heraldic mount linked to Alphonso Plantagenet, Earl of Chester, the young prince who was once heir to the English throne.
The one page feature tells the story of the find from the moment it emerged from the Surrey soil, through its identification by the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), to the discovery of the extraordinary history represented by the heraldry on its face.
What initially appeared to be an interesting medieval object turned out to have a direct connection with the Plantagenet royal family and a largely forgotten prince whose story ended tragically more than 700 years ago.
A Remarkable Find in the Surrey Hills
The mount was discovered by Bearded Bleeper Murray while detecting with his Minelab Equinox 900 in the Surrey Hills.
The land had been detected previously, but wetter ground conditions encouraged another visit, a good reminder that a field is rarely ever completely “done”.
A strong signal in the low 90s resulted in the recovery of a large, shield shaped copper alloy object. Even before it was cleaned, the outline of three lions could be seen on its face.
It was clearly something unusual.
Further examination revealed a heater-shaped heraldic shield, approximately 65.8mm in size, bearing three lions passant guardant with a label of five points across the top.
Those seemingly small heraldic details proved crucial to unlocking its identity.
Identified by the Portable Antiquities Scheme
The find was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, where the heraldry pointed towards an exceptionally interesting identification.
The three lions are, of course, closely associated with the Plantagenet royal family. However, the five-point label distinguished these arms from those of the king.
The arms are believed to represent:
Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale Or, a label of five points Azure.
They are associated with Alphonso Plantagenet, Earl of Chester, son of King Edward I and Eleanor of Castile.
Suddenly, this wasn’t simply a medieval heraldic mount. It was an object connected with a boy who, had history unfolded differently, could have become King of England.
Alphonso Plantagenet – England’s Forgotten Heir
Alphonso was born in 1273, the ninth child of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile.
Following the deaths of his older brothers, Alphonso became the surviving male heir to the English throne. For much of his short life, the future of the Plantagenet dynasty rested with him.
But he would never become king.
Alphonso died in 1284 at just 10 years old, only months after the birth of his younger brother Edward, the future King Edward II.
His early death meant that a child who had once occupied an enormously important position in medieval England largely disappeared from popular history.
More than seven centuries later, a small object lost in the Surrey countryside provided a tangible link to his story.
What Was the Mount Used For?
Exactly what the mount originally decorated remains uncertain.
Its size and heraldic design suggest that it may once have adorned an important object associated with Alphonso or his household. Possibilities include furniture, a chest, carriage equipment or perhaps something with an ecclesiastical or commemorative connection.
The reverse does not provide an obvious surviving method of attachment, making its precise original purpose difficult to establish.
That mystery is part of what makes the find so intriguing.
Somebody commissioned an object displaying the arms of one of the most important children in 13th-century England. Somehow, it eventually found its way into the Surrey soil, where it remained for around seven centuries.
From a Detector Signal to Treasure Hunting Magazine
That journey is what makes seeing the mount featured in Treasure Hunting Magazine particularly satisfying.
The October issue follows the story from its discovery and reporting to PAS through to the identification of the heraldry and the history of the young Plantagenet prince behind it.
For us, it’s also a great example of why responsible metal detecting is about considerably more than simply finding old objects.
When finds are recorded and researched, something pulled from the ground can become a doorway into an almost forgotten piece of history.
Pick up the October issue of Treasure Hunting Magazine to read the feature.
Watch the Full Story of the Plantagenet Heraldic Mount
We also produced a video telling the story of the find in much greater detail – from Murray uncovering the mount in the Surrey Hills through to its identification and our research into Alphonso Plantagenet.
It remains one of the most historically fascinating finds made by the Bearded Bleepers, and we’re very pleased to see the story now reaching the readers of Treasure Hunting Magazine.
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