Metal detectorist father who told daughter, nine, he would find gold keeps promise after digging up £12,000 Anglo-Saxon ring in West Sussex field

• Peter Pawel, 46, had been metal detecting for just a year when he struck gold

A metal detectorist father who promised his nine-year-old daughter that he would ‘bring home gold today’ found a 10th-century Anglo-Saxon ring worth £12,000.

Peter Pawel, 46, who had been metal detecting for just a year, was exploring a pasture near Greatham, West Sussex, when he got a signal and dug down four inches.

Initially, he thought he’d found a cheap plastic funfair item. But when he showed it to the dig organiser at the Sussex Metal Detecting Group, he was shocked to discover it was a significant 1,100-year-old find.

He proudly handed the ring – which is being auctioned this month – to his daughter, Maya, who held it with a beaming smile as he made good on his bold prediction.

Peter Pawel and daughter Maya. He promised to bring home gold and found a ring that was 1,100 years old

The construction company owner uncovered the ring missing a section of its hoop in a clump of clay

It is believed the ring would have belonged to a very wealthy woman in Anglo-Saxon times

It is an elaborately designed gold and enamel ring with a raised circular bezel divided by six domed cloisonne cells forming a cross of green glass 

Mr Pawel said: ‘Before I left home I told my daughter, who was nine years old, I’m going to bring you home some gold today.

‘It was Father’s Day so I only planned on detecting for a couple of hours then I would take her to the restaurant.

‘I got a signal and dug down four inches and saw a yellow colour in the clump of clay.

‘I thought it was just a cheap plastic funfair item, but then looking closely it looked like it could be gold.

‘I took it to the dig organiser and they said straight away it was Anglo-Saxon.’

The ring has been disclaimed as treasure, so the proceeds of its sale will be split between Mr Pawel and the landowner

Mr Pawel posted a picture of the ring on Facebook and was inundated with 400 messages from detectorists congratulating him on it.

He added: ‘When I showed Maya the ring she was very excited and that’s when it sunk in for me too.

‘It is a special, unexpected find and if it sells I want to take my family on holiday.’

The construction company owner uncovered the ring, missing a section of its hoop, in a clump of clay.

It is an elaborately designed gold and enamel ring that has a raised circular bezel divided by six domed cloisonne cells forming a cross of green glass.

The angles of the cross are spaced by four triangular cells of blue glass within a thin blue glass border.

It is believed the ring would have belonged to a very wealthy woman in Anglo-Saxon times.

At the time Queen Edith, widow of Edward the Confessor and regarded as the richest woman in England, lived in the village where it was found.

The ring, which is less than an inch wide and weighs 3.7 grams, was found on Father’s Day in June 2021

Peter Pawel with wife Kate and daughter Maya. The dad said he will use the money to take his family on holiday

The ring, which is less than an inch wide and weighs 3.7 grams, was found on Father’s Day in June 2021.

Greatham is in the parish of Parham which was an agricultural community named Terra Regis (Land of the King) in the Saxon period.

The village was recorded in the 1086 Domesday book as Gretham.

It is going under the hammer at London-based auctioneers Noonans, which says its condition suggests it was hardly worn before being buried.

The ring has been disclaimed as treasure, so the proceeds of its sale will be split between Mr Pawel and the landowner.

Mr Pawel hopes to spend his share on a family holiday.

Nigel Mills, Noonans coins and artefact specialist, said: ‘The ring is a 10th-century gold finger ring decorated with filigree and inlaid on the bezel with green and blue enamel forming an expanding cross.

‘The ring has been recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme and disclaimed as treasure.

‘In 1086, the village where the ring was found was recorded as Gretham with the Manor House owned by Queen Edith, widow of Edward the Confessor and regarded as the richest woman in England.

‘Lavish rings from the 10th and 11th century are rare and normally have a religious significance.’

The sale takes place on November 28.

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