File:Medieval bell (FindID 961588).jpg

The object consists of the upper hemisphere of a globe, hollow inside and with openwork around its equator. There is an integral circular attachment loop which also survives. The loop is crudely cast with a circular hole through it and rough projections on the outer side, possibly casting flashes that have not been cleared off. The upper (solid) part of the bell has four regularly spaced moulded squared topped and round based shields each within a circle. on each shield is a displayed eagle (on the left) impaling three chevrons (on the right). The lower half of the bell was openwork consisting of eight curved bars continuing the spherical shape with openings between them. The openings have curved top edges. All of the bars are broken at the top with only stubs remaining. In the interior at the top are the corroded remains of a copper alloy wire loop from which the clapper would have been suspended. The clapper is missing and the rest of the arms are lost to old breaks.

This object is very similar to SOM-94431E, which provides an excellent appraisal of the current discourse as regarding this form of object. That record states that:

"These items have caused some confusion over the years and they are not published in the usual sources although several have been recorded on the database. An example from Suffolk complete with clapper suggests they are definitely bells (<a href="http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/195255">SF-A43191</a>) and several others have been recorded as such: <a href="http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/211870">NLM-FE7B62</a>, <a href="http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/192121">IOW-D712F1</a>, <a href="http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/119832">SOMDOR-0B1D95</a>, <a href="http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/108348">SF-BC7AB1</a>, SWYOR-F0F196.

The arms have previously been identified as those of Ralph de Monthermer and his wife Joan of Acre (Martin, Pendleton and Plouviez 2008, 509). There are problems however with this interpretation (Joan would not normally use the Clare arms of her first husband to impale those of her second). It has also been suggested (Burnett 2011 SOM-AF84B6) the bells have a close similarity to a range of cast copper-alloy lead filled steelyard weights of the late 13th century (see, for example <a href="http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/290285">SOM-FDCC33</a>) and the shield designs also echo those seen on the weights. It was therefore suggested they are, like the weights, the arms of Edmund (1249-1300), Earl of Cornwall, the double-headed eagle, the symbol of the Holy Roman Empire, following his election as King of the Romans (ibid.). impaled with his wife Margaret de Clare. They married in 1272 suggesting a terminus post quem.

Steven Ashley has also suggested they could be interpreted as the arms of Nuremberg, a possible place of manufacture for this type of bell. Broadly similar stamped examples of the arms of Nuremberg can be found on late medieval and post-medieval nested cup weights (Houben, 1984, pp. 11 and 70, gifs./ 11 - 13). 14th - 15th century, see NMS-563705 on this database for a discussion of this interpretation."

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