Taynton Metal Detecting Club
The Gannets
Tudor Pins
Above is a gold and silver Dress Pin found by Don Sherratt in a field on the outskirts of Newent in 2006. The loop would have been for the attachment of a chain to help prevent loss. This Dress Pin was classed as treasure under the Treasure Act and reported to the coroner, who returned it to Don.
During the Tudor period hair decorations were very fashionable with wealthy ladies. These ornate gold and silver pins were worn in the hair with the spherical decorated knob protruding over the centre of the forehead. Several have been found by detectorists during recent years, many with the pin deliberately bent to help prevent them slipping out of the hair.
The silver bodkin above was found in Newent parish at the site of a glassworks operated by Huguenot Immigrants from 1595 to 1630. It has the initials 'I A' scratched on it' surface Apart from their sewing use, silver bodkins could also be used as hair pins. Sometimes a drop pearl was suspended over the forehead by a piece of silver wire from the hole in the blunt end.