A MEDIEVAL ring found in a field in Silsden was declared as treasure at an inquest in Bradford yesterday.

Assistant Coroner Dr Dominic Bell said the silver gilt signet ring was discovered by treasure hunter Stephen Auker, who dug it up from a depth of about five inches.

The merchant’s ring dates from between AD 1400 and 1600 and was found in a farm field on May 20 this year by Mr Auker using a metal detector.

Mr Auker is a charity treasure hunter who donates a percentage of the money he makes from his finds to Cancer Research UK.

On the ring, Mr Auker said: “They were quite common but they were very rarely lost because Tudor merchants of that time would hardly ever wear them. They rarely ever took them out because they were a very precious item.

“They were generally family heirlooms that were passed down. It is quite a find.”

Mr Auker said he expected the ring to be valued at between £200 and £400, adding: “It is not a great deal, but we might get a nice surprise.”

A spokesman for the British Museum said the ring was in its possession awaiting valuation.

She added: “Bradford Museums are interested in it. It is a nice complete finger ring.

“It will be provisionally valued by experts, then it will go to the Independent Treasure Valuation Committee.”

The exact location of the find was not revealed at the treasure trove inquest in Bradford, with Mr Bell stating: “The precise location of the find will not be revealed for reasons of confidentiality. We have been asked that the precise location of the find be kept anonymous.”

Mr Auker, of Riddlesden, said Cliffe Castle had expressed an interest in displaying the ring. He added that it was now a waiting game, saying: “It is a case of getting the final valuation, which will be agreed between the valuation team, the landowner and myself.”

Cliffe Castle has already bought more than 100 ancient silver Roman coins that Mr Auker found in a secret location in Riddlesden, a few weeks before finding the ring.