THREE historic finds could be added to the Winchester Museums Service collection after being recognised as treasure.

The items include a 13th century silver gilt brooch, a silver cruciform pendant of similar age and a 16th century silver gilt dress hook.

Metal detector enthusiasts found them at three different sites in the Winchester district.

The silver gilt brooch, which features four dragons, was discovered at some farmland at Pitt on 24 August 2008.

Its finder, Colin Marshall from Maple Gardens in Totton, came to the treasure inquest in Winchester on Wednesday (April 28).

It emerged that the brooch was 16mm wide – around two-thirds of an inch – and was made of silver coated with gold.

Mark Aldington from Denmead found the second item, the cruciform pendant, on 6 December 2008 at a field near Hambledon.

It was a similar size to the brooch and inscribed with the letters “AGLA”.

Finds liaison officer for Hampshire, Robert Webley, said the writing was in Hebrew and meant “Thou art mighty forever o Lord”.

However, despite the language used, he said it was probably not of Jewish origin.

Andrew Aartsen, a metal detector enthusiast from Surrey, made the third discovery near Twyford on 1 February 2009.

He found a Tudor silver gilt dress hook, which was about twice the size of the other two items.

Central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short said because all three finds were made of precious metal and more than 300 years old, they were officially treasure.

As a result, the landowners and finders will qualify for a 50/50 split of the proceeds.

Mr Webley said all three finds were “relatively common” and the coroner said Mr Aartsen had already declined his share.

After the inquest, Mr Webley valued the brooch at around £500 and the other items at £100 each. The Winchester Museums Service now hopes to acquire them.