MEDIEVAL MYSTERY UNEARTHED

By County Press Reporter - Thursday, January 22, 2004

From left, finds and liaisons officer for the portable antiquities scheme Frank Basford and IW Metal Detecting Society members Albert Snell and John Mitchell inspect a medieval ampulla, inset. Pictures by JENNIFER BURTON.

By Ross Findon
THE DISCOVERY of medieval metal has excited members of a new club.
A three-inch copper alloy statuette of the Madonna and a pilgrim's ampulla, both thought to date back around 600 years, are just two of the recent finds by members of the IW Metal Detecting Society.
Albert Snell, 72, a retired postman of St Paul's Avenue, Shanklin, is currently the oldest member of the club and was behind the discovery of the ampulla - an historic religious vessel.
IW Council archaeologist Frank Basford said the item, which is made of cast lead alloy, was possibly used to carry holy water.
It features a moulded W that has been suggested on similar finds to represent the cult of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Mr Snell, whose wife, Barbara, is club secretary, said: "I have always enjoyed metal detecting and started in about 1975. At first I just used to do beaches but I recently started doing inland and it has been much more interesting.
"This is one of the best finds that I have ever had."
The new club is quickly gaining members.
"The first meeting we had was with seven people in my house, then we got 14 and then we had so many members we had to move our meetings to the Church on the Roundabout in Newport," said Mr Snell.
The society was formed in October and has attracted 28 members, with the youngest just four years old.
Chairman Dave Clark, a retired landscape gardener, said: "He comes with his family and has his own trowel.
"Even when we go out in the worst weather, they come back full of enthusiasm."

MEDIEVAL MYSTERY UNEARTHED

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