The Folkestone Museum has declared an interest in buying a medieval gold pendant found in a village.

The jewellery piece was found during a metal detecting session in a field in Elham, and has since been verified by the British Museum as being made in the 7th century.

Found on February 4 last year by Paul Haigh - a member of the Kent Searchers Metal Detecting Club - the fragment is part of an intricate gold pendant in the shape of a cross and features a garnet at its centre.

A report compiled ahead of the coroner’s treasure inquest held last week at the Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone states: “This pendant joins the small number of gold and garnet cross pendants known from early Anglo-Saxon contexts, all of which are fairly diverse in size, shape and technique.

“The object fulfils the Treasure Act (1996) in that it is more than 300 years old and has a precious metal content exceeding 10%.”

Coroner Jeffery Smith called as a witness Gillingham resident Mr Haigh, who verified that the metal detecting club had permission to be on the land and that it was he who dug it up.

It was also revealed that Folkestone Museum wanted to acquire the 1.73 gram item.

Mr Smith concluded: “I’m perfectly well satisfied that Mr Haigh found it. I’m also satisfied that the club, of which he’s a member, had permission to go on the land where the artefact was found.

“The matter will now move forward and I’ve no doubt that Mr Haigh has a personal and professional interest in the outcome, but the matter will be decided by whether Folkestone Museum want the document.”

The coroner suggested a committee is set up between the finder, landowner and museum “to determine the financial result for Mr Haigh.”

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Haigh - who has been detecting for four years as a hobby - said: “I just thought ‘wow’. When I saw that glint of gold come out of the ground, I had an amazing feeling wash over me. If [the museum] wants it, I’d be happy to discuss it with them.”

His previous best artefact was a Victorian gold sovereign.

Seven months before the pendant’s discovery, detectorist The Folkestone Museum has declared an interest in buying a medieval gold pendant found in a village.

The jewellery piece was found during a metal detecting session in a field in Elham, and has since been verified by the British Museum as being made in the 7th century.

Found on February 4 last year by Paul Haigh - a member of the Kent Searchers Metal Detecting Club - the fragment is part of an intricate gold pendant in the shape of a cross and features a garnet at its centre.

A report compiled ahead of the coroner’s treasure inquest held last week at the Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone states: “This pendant joins the small number of gold and garnet cross pendants known from early Anglo-Saxon contexts, all of which are fairly diverse in size, shape and technique.

“The object fulfils the Treasure Act (1996) in that it is more than 300 years old and has a precious metal content exceeding 10%.”

Coroner Jeffery Smith called as a witness Gillingham resident Mr Haigh, who verified that the metal detecting club had permission to be on the land and that it was he who dug it up.

It was also revealed that Folkestone Museum wanted to acquire the 1.73 gram item.

Mr Smith concluded: “I’m perfectly well satisfied that Mr Haigh found it. I’m also satisfied that the club, of which he’s a member, had permission to go on the land where the artefact was found.

“The matter will now move forward and I’ve no doubt that Mr Haigh has a personal and professional interest in the outcome, but the matter will be decided by whether Folkestone Museum want the document.”

The coroner suggested a committee is set up between the finder, landowner and museum “to determine the financial result for Mr Haigh.”

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Haigh - who has been detecting for four years as a hobby - said: “I just thought ‘wow’.

When I saw that glint of gold come out of the ground, I had an amazing feeling wash over me. If (the museum) wants it, I’d be happy to discuss it with them.”

His previous best artefact was a Victorian gold sovereign.

Seven months before the pendant’s discovery, detectorist Ashley Revell also made a historic find in Elham - a trove of axeheads and ingots.