A MEDIEVAL gold ring found during excavations on the site of 13th century priory in St Ebbes belonged to the city, an inquest decided in June 1972.

The stirrup-shaped ring, which had an uncut sapphire set in it, dates 13th or 14th century, and was valued at between £50 and £75.

It was found on the site of Black Friars Monastery by Humphrey Woods, a volunteer worker with Oxford Archaeological Excavation Group.

Mr Woods, of 16 New High Street, Headington, said the ring was between the subsoil and mortar in a room next to the sacristy.

Tom Hassall, director of the excavation committee, said the monastery was built by the Dominicans who came to Oxford in 1221.

The buildings were razed to the ground during the Reformation.

The site was owned in 1972 by Oxford City Corporation and was scheduled for development.