Riding to rescue vital record of English Medieval Knights

The export of a 13th Century roll of arms, crucial to the study of medieval English knighthood, has been put on hold.

Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge, has placed a temporary export bar on the Dering Roll, a decorated manuscript roll of arms on vellum. This will provide a last chance to raise the money to keep the roll in the United Kingdom.

The Minister's ruling follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, administered by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. The Committee recommended that the export decision be deferred on the grounds that the roll is of outstanding significance for the study of early English heraldry and is so closely connected with our history and national life that its departure would be a misfortune.

The Committee awarded a starred rating to the roll meaning that every possible effort should be made to raise enough money to keep it in the country.

The Dering Roll was produced in England in the last quarter of the 13th century. It is eight and a half feet long and contains the coats of arms of approximately one-quarter of the English baronage of the reign of King Edward I. As the earliest surviving English roll of arms it is a key document of medieval English knighthood. As a statement of the knights who owed feudal service to the constable of Dover Castle, it carries outstanding local as well as national significance.

Lord Inglewood, Chairman of the Reviewing Committee said: "This is an extraordinarily iconic object being the oldest complete English roll of arms in the history of English Heraldry"

The decision on the export licence application for the Dering Roll will be deferred for a period ending on 19 April 2008 inclusive. This period may be extended until 19 July 2008 inclusive if a serious intention to raise funds with a view to making an offer to purchase the Dering Roll at the recommended price of £192,500 excluding VAT is expressed.

Anyone interested in making an offer to purchase the Dering Roll should contact the owner's agent through:

The Secretary The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, Victoria House, Southampton Row London WC1B 4EA

From: PR-USA.net