Bronze Age Bracelet
Kiplin Hall and Gardens

This gold torque bracelet was discovered on the old estate of what is now Kiplin Hall and Gardens near Richmond in North Yorkshire. It was discovered along with two others in the 19th century and likely dates from the bronze age so it could be up to 4,000 years old.

At that time an ornament like this would have been quite rare and would therefore likely have been worn by someone with high status. You can see it has a gap on one side for the wrist to fit through and the gold can still be polished to a shine.

Unlike a lot of similar bracelets from this period, this one has a square cross section not a round one and could have been made by welding several strips of gold together. You can see this by looking at the ends where the gap is for the wrist.

The bracelet was kept by the family at Kiplin Hall until the final owner of the Hall, Bridget Talbot, decided she wanted to loan it to the nearby Richmond Town Council. Bridget wanted the bracelet to be worn by the Mayoress. The bracelet was eventually returned to Kiplin Hall in 2015 and is now on display.

Bronze Age bracelet from Kiplin Hall and Gardens

Click on the photo to enlarge it.

What can we learn from an object like this?

This gold bracelet helps us to learn about the skill and artistry of Bronze Age metalworkers. Its precious material suggests it belonged to someone of high status, possibly worn to display wealth, identity, or social importance. Such objects may have held symbolic or ceremonial meaning, offering a glimpse into the beliefs and cultural values of the time.

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Talking Points

Do you like the bracelet? Would you like to wear a bracelet like this?

Why do you think the final owner of Kiplin Hall wanted a local Mayoress to wear this bracelet?

We don’t know if this was found by a professional archaeologist or by workman working the land at Kiplin Hall. Have you ever found anything precious or interesting? What was it?

Can you think of other items of jewellery that are worn to signify status or rank?

Vocabulary

Bronze Age: the period after the Stone Age. It dates from approximately 2,000 to 700 BCE (although the exact dates vary across Europe and the rest of the world). Bronze was increasingly the main metal used for toolmaking

Torque or Torc: a type of jewellery, usually made from metal, worn around the neck or wrist

Ceremonial: used for special events or rituals, often with cultural or religious meaning

Status: A person’s importance or position in a group or society, often shown through what they own or wear

In the Classroom

Hotseat

Interview a member of the class is role as the mayoress of Richmond, wearing this rare and expensive object for her town duties. How does she feel wearing the object? Is she pleased to wear it – or does she have any concerns?

Hands on History

Discover more about Kiplin Hall and Gardens, or pay them a visit.