File:Medieval seal on document possibly naming the same individual (FindID 812035).jpg

Medieval lead alloy pointed oval (vesica shaped) seal matrix. The matrix is fragile and cracked with damage to the edges and pitting on the back. The angular fractures perhaps suggesting a tin content. On the front there is a central incuse design of an fleur de lis with a large central leaf, small side leaves and a pellet at the base. There is a plain line border around the design then the inscription reading SIGILL . GVN(IL) RELICTE . (T) . d'PIL within an outer plain line border. The back is plain and flat, there may have been a lug projecting from the upper or lower corner, both of which are damaged. The matrix is now 48.6mm long, 31.5mm wide, 5.1mm thick. It weighs 28.97g.

This appears to be a personal inscription and can be expanded to Sigillum Gunhilda relicte T[...] de Pil, Seal of Gunhilda widow of T[...] of Pil. One or two Gunhilds are known at the nearby Cothay in the 14th century. Manuscript DD/S/CK/2 of 1309 relates to land owned by Gunhild and her husband, she was the sister of William of Cothay and married to Thomas son of Lawrence the Smith of Greenham. The second document DD/S/CK/10 dating to 1324 is a quit claim by the same William of Cothay over land between his hall and the neighbouring hall of John de Wyslaurgh and his wife Gunhild. This second Gunhild may be the daughter of the first or indeed the same person on a second marriage. The Gunhild mentioned in the first document is a strong candidate for the owner of this seal as she was maried to a Thomas and owned land locally and therefore would have need of a seal matrix. Piley Lane runs south east out of Cothay to a Piley copse to the east, a possibility for the place name mentioned on the matrix. The style of the matrix, pointed oval with a simple design and personal inscription, suggests a thirteenth century date (Harvey and McGuiness 1996:80). The simple fluer de lis is a relatively popular motif in this period.

While the identification of the Gunhild named on the seal with that in the document is not certain the location, relative unusual name, spouse name and location of find are all suggestive. However the style of the matrix in isolation might support a slightly earlier, mid-13th century date.