A SILVER 15th Century ring will go to Salisbury Museum after it was discovered on land at Ford.

Stephen Henstridge (42) was using his metal detector when he found the late medieval seal ring which is embossed with the letter R.

Mr Henstridge took the ring to a finders day at Salisbury Museum where he was told it would be subject to a treasure trove inquest at the coroner's court.

Wiltshire's finds liaison officer Katie Hinds told the hearing on Monday that the ring qualified as treasure because it was more than 300 years old and the precious metal content was greater than 10 per cent.

She said that part of the ring was broken, but it was still possible to see the detail on the face.

The backwards letter R was probably the owner's first name which would have come out the right way when it was stamped in wax. Although other rings from the period have been found in Salisbury, the ring is the first silver example discovered in the city.

Coroner David Masters said to Mr Henstridge, "I am seizing the ring on behalf of the Crown.

"It will be sent to the British Museum to determine its current value and you will receive a reward for that value.

"I would like to thank you for reporting the find and helping to preserve our history and heritage."

After the hearing Mr Henstridge, who has been searching for precious metal for 16 years said: "It's always very exciting to make a find like this - it was only three inches beneath the surface.

"This is my main hobby. I go to sites all over the country but Salisbury is excellent because there's so much history here."