As England’s Lionesses prepare for an historic football final, HS2 Ltd has released an image of a pendant uncovered as part of its archaeological excavations.
The iconic three golden lions on a field of red - mirroring the distinctive England football crest - was discovered in Wormleighton in Warwickshire on a site that would have been an Iron Age or Romano British settlement.
Associated with the arms of England, this form of heraldry was in use by the Crown between 1189-1340. It is likely that the pendant would have decorated a horse harness, but on Sunday the three lions will be proudly worn by England’s Women’s football team at Wembley.
A spokeswoman for HS2 Ltd said:
"HS2's archaeology programme has given us an unprecedented opportunity to discover, excavate and study British history. The whole country has got behind the England Women's team and we hope this great find will inspire the Lionesses to create their own piece of history on Sunday!"
William the Conqueror used two lions on a red background as his coat of arms and brought the symbol to the English throne.
Henry II first used three lions on a red background, adding a lion to William the Conqueror's two when he married Eleanor of Aquitaine, probably to represent his marriage into that family.
