Rare monastic seal found by Nottinghamshire child sells at auction

The object has been dated to between 1219 to 1235

A medieval priory seal matrix, thought to be about 800 years old, has been sold after it was dug up by a 10-year-old metal detectorist.

The copper-alloy object was found by George Henderson from Nottinghamshire.

He had been digging with his father Paul in Woodbridge, Suffolk, when he found the artefact, connected to a nearby religious house.

It was bought for £4,000 at auction in Derbyshire on Thursday and will be returned to Suffolk by the new owner.

The oval-shaped artefact would have been pressed into wax to seal official correspondence by priests at Butley Priory.

The priory - founded in 1171 - was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and is the reason the seal features a Madonna figure.

It also has a Latin inscription, which helped to date the object to between 1219 to 1235.

The seal features a Madonna figure and a Latin inscription

The seal had been valued by as being worth between £4,000 and £6,000.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: "It was an honour to auction this wonderful find.

"I am thrilled by the result - particularly for the metal detectorist who unearthed it."

The money made from the sale will be shared between George and the owner of the land it was found on.