Wednesday, January 29, 2014

London's Lost Jewels:The Mystery of the Cheapside Hoard and Give Away by J. Kent

Wouldn't you just love to wear this little salamander? I'm really not a jewelry freak but I love it!
Amazon.com
I’m always researching and looking for new ideas for my novels. Just recently I came across a story that took my breath away. It’s been known for some time but I’d never heard of it. Just in case you’re fascinated with uncovering treasure and have a secret desire to be a treasure hunter yourself  you’ll love this. And if you are blessed to live near the Museum of London, all I can say is, lucky you!

From the Telegraph   October 04, 2013
“In 1912 a trove of Elizabethan and Jacobean gold and precious stones was discovered beneath the City of London. It is still unclear who buried it, and why. Vivienne Becker explores the murky past of the capital’s jewellery trade.”

Cheapside in 1823, looking west towards St Paul's Cathedral
Wikipedia
Imagine that you’re a laborer and tearing down sites in order to clear the way for new ones when you suddenly unearth a treasure! Sounds like the making of a good book and movie doesn’t it?  Take a look at this story: Mystery of the Cheapside Hoard
I had to add this view of Cheapside (right) during the Regency period since that's one of my favorite time periods.

Clues to the Mystery  Could these jewels have been hidden before The Great Fire of 1666 that swept though London in ? Sounds logical to me.

There is so much wonderful information and pictures of the jewelry here in the links I've provided that it will take you awhile to look at all of it and read if you're interested.

Have any of you reading this actully seen this collection at The Museum of London? If so, tell all!

GIVE AWAY
Today I'll be giving away a copy of one of my novels (your choice) from The Ravensmoore Chronicles.http://www.jilliankent.com/books/  You can read an excerpt and pick the one that intersts you most. It is a series but you can also read them as stand alone novels. 

 To have your name thrown in the hat leave a comment about the blog post and/or your favorite piece of jewelry. I'll announce the winner on Sunday, February 2. A winner will be chosen at random and comments will be accepted for the book drawing through Saturday night, Feb. 1st Pacific time. Void where prohibited. US residents only.

Jillian Kent loves England's Regency era. In 2013 her second book in The Ravensmoore Chronicles, Chameleon, finaled in both the Selah at Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in romance fiction and in Romance Writers of America's prestigious Daphne du Maurier for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. Jillian is employed as a counselor for nursing students in Cincinnati, Ohio and possesses a masters degree in social work. She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and passionate about mental health, wellness, and stomping out the stigma of mental illness. You can reach her at jill@jilliankent.com and explore further at her website www.jilliankent.com.You can also find her on Twitter @JillKentAuthor and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JillianKent 

Jillian encourages you to visit The Well Writer located under the Brilliant tab within the Christian Fiction Online Magazine and her blog: Jill's Quill


39 comments:

  1. I read this series and LOVED it! What are you working on now?

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    1. Hi Lisa,
      So glad you loved the series. I'm currently working on another regency series. Thinking it may be a mystery series but I don't think I can stay away from the romance element. :) I'm also working on some historical e-short stories that will revolve around Cincinnati but I haven't decided what period yet.

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  2. I found your post very interesting. I am a jewelry lover. My husband bought me a ring several years ago that I thoroughly enjoy wearing.
    Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Melanie,
      I actually went on e-bay looking for something similar to the salamander on the front of the book. Can't find what I want yet so I may ask a friend to make one for me. :) What's your ring look like?

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  3. Very interesting post! Living in Florida, we hear periodic stories about treasure hunters finding sunken ships full of gold and treasure, so this type of tale always piques my interest. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Hi Jennifer,
      Love treasure hunting stories. I may just have to write one about this find or what I think may have been going on during the time it was hidden. So many fun things to explore!

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    2. Oh please do, Jillian! I was kind of wishing you would as I read the article! :-)

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  4. Hi Jillian, Love jewelry that is a little odd like this piece...Had not heard about this mystery story. That would be interesting for sure. thanks for sharing. I would love reading one of your books.

    Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)

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    1. Hi Paula,
      Thanks for your interest in the books. I'm getting very interested in "odd" pieces of jewlry now that I've discovered this. Must be some latent aspect of my personality that is just emerging. :) I'm just fascinated by this mystery of London's Lost Jewels. I'm sure to be studying it for awhild to come.

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  5. Very interesting, I had know idea they uncovered jewelry so long ago.

    I read they even found King Richard's remains in a parking lot last year.

    Really enjoyed your series and look forward to your future Regencies.

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  6. Wow, so interesting. I love jewelry and didn't know much about it's history. Thanks for the fun post and my favorite piece is a necklace from my hubby - it is small and simple and I wear it every day! =) truckredford(at)gmail(Dot)com would love to win! =)

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    1. Hi Eliza,
      The necklace from your hubby sounds very special. Glad you enjoyed the post and good luck in the drawing.

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  7. Hi J. Grace,
    I thought that was so wild about them finding King Richard's remains too! And in a parking lot! I'm so glad you enjoyed the series. I hope readers don't get tired of the regency. I'm also exploring the Victorian era too but I don love the regency setting and history.

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    1. I have been reading regency for the last six years, it is still my favorite setting and am not tired of it yet. :)

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  8. London's Lost Jewels sounds quite intriguing and I look forward to learning more. Thank you for sharing this interesting post. I adore every piece of my jewelry!

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Britney,
      Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry?

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  9. I would love to win one of Jillian's books to give to my church library. Thanks for the opportunity to do so.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. Hi Library Lady,
    I'd love to know about your favorite piece of jewlery if you have a favorite. Thanks so much for your interest in my books for your church library. That's awesome!

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  11. Jillian, I loved Secrets of the Heart! It is such a good story! Just wanted to say that. I have the next two books, so I'm not entering the contest.
    Blessings...

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    1. Thanks for dropping by to say that, Kay. It does my heart good. If you win you can pass one of the books on to a friend.

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  12. My favorite piece of jewelry WAS my wedding ring but it was stolen while we were overseas doing missionwork. I realize it was just a token but the sentimentalness of it was everything! Every girl dreams of that day when your prince proposes and gives you the ring. I would love whichever book you picked!

    missionwife AT hotmail DOT com

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    1. Melody, that's so sad about your wedding ring. I think any of us would hurt over that loss, and while you were on the mission field too! Just not right. Did you get another ring?

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  13. Thanks for a wonderful post, Jillian! You had me wishing I was rich enough to fly over to London so I could see this exhibit at The Museum of London - or to have been one of the one's who found the jewels!
    When I was 19 I placed my baby, Hannah, for adoption and her new parents, Chris & MaryBeth, gave me a gold chain with a little angel - I called her "my own angel" plus I love & collect angels - pendant on it. I rarely ever take it off - not even to sleep or shower. I just feel closer to them all when I have it around my neck! I just need Mystery of the Heart to own the complete set! Thanks for the chance to win it!
    kam110476 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. P.S. Please write a book about this -The Cheapside Hoard! I think it is a very fascinating and interesting, not to mention amazing, little story!!

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    2. Kam,
      That is the most precious story I've heard about jewelry. Sending you a big hug. And I'm with you about wanting to fly over the pond and visit that exhibit. I wonder if they'll ever bring it to the States? Wouldn't that be fun!

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    3. And I'm sure I'll find a way to weave this story into one of my own. It's just too good to pass up. :)

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  14. My favorite piece of jewelry is one our son gave me. It's 6 different colored stone hearts with 2 interchangeable brown and black necklaces. It is so beautiful and reminds me of how much our son loves me. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Oh Sharon, that sounds wonderful! You're blessed to have such a unique gift from your son.

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  15. I DO love buried treasure! Just read a book in which some buried gold played a big role: The Outcasts, by Kathleen Kent. My favorite piece of jewelry is a piece of vintage costume jewelry -- about 3.5" tall, a Christmas tree. jksfamily5@gmail.com

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    1. Hi Susan,
      I'll have to check that book out. Another Kent author too. :) Your Christmas tree jewelry sounds lovely. I think after exploring the Lost Jewels and hearing about every ones favorite pieces I'm going to hunt specifically for more things I really love. This has been fun.

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  16. Hello, enjoyed the post and wanted to tell you about my favorite piece of jewelry that I never take off. It first belonged to my mother. It's a 32" delicate gold rope chain with a gold pendant crafted in Hebrew letters that say "I am my Beloved's and He is mine." Christ was her Beloved and she WAS His. Mama's been with Him 16 years now, and looking down and seeing her necklace reminds me we'll be together again one day because I, too, am my Beloved's, and He is mine!

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    1. That's beautiful, Caryl, and so very special! Thanks for sharing that story. Your necklace is a great reminder of of our future with HIM.

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  17. Wow, that's so fascinating! It does sound like it would make a neat story. My favorite jewelry are fandom related ... I have a couple of Star Wars and superhero themed bracelets I like to wear

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    1. Oops ... It posted too soon! I like those pieces of jewelry because they're inexpensive, so I don't worry about wrecking them. :P thanks for the chance to win ... I love Regencies!

      Jafuchi7(at)hawaii(dot)edu

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    2. Hi there, Lady DragonKeeper!
      Fun, fandom jewelry. Never even thought about that. I've always loved Yoda, speaking of Star Wars.:) So glad you're a regency fan as well. Oh great, now you've got me thinking of regency author jewelry, such as, what did Jane Austen wear? And a little later, what did the Bronte's wear. Hmm. Time for more research.

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  18. I have always wondered what all is buried forever on this earth that we will never know about. Great story!
    lattebooks at hotmail dot com

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    1. Hi Susan,
      It is fascinating to think about isn't it? I don't think I'll have any trouble finding things to do when I'm an old lady. I could be very happy studying all these different possibilities and I'm sure as long as I'm able I'll be writing about them. Glad you enjoyed this story. I have a feeling I'll be revisiting it sometime in a novel I'm writing.

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  19. I hope you enjoyed this conversation about London's Lost Jewels. I really loved hearing from each of you about special jewelry in your lives and your reactions to the Cheapside Hoard. The book winner is Melody!( missionwife AT hotmail DOT com)
    If you all would like to keep in touch please visit my website (www.jilliankent.com) and sign up to follow by e-mail and my newsletter. I'd love to keep in touch with each of you. Be blessed this month and have an awesome Valentine's Day!

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