A number of objects suggest that some who lived at or visited the Shadwell settlement were of relatively high status. There are two gold objects – part of a gold necklace (above) and a gold earring (below).

The necklace comprises six links, alternately short and long, formed from straight lengths of wire twisted at the ends to form loops. The fifth link from the hook has a small, opaque greyish-white glass bead with a pearl like sheen. The hook has a leaf-shaped plate soldered on, decorated with small nicks along the edges.

The gold earring is made from a rectangular plate with filigree decoration. A hexagonal-sectioned green glass bead, now slightly damaged, is affixed to the centre by a length of wire. Four strips formed into a cruciform are soldered to the back, and the hook apparently soldered onto the centre of the cross rather than inserted. This object is paralleled by a less elaborate fourth-century ear-ring from Wincle, Cheshire. However, the Wincle earring lacked the glass bead and had a less complex fixture for the hook (Allason-Jones 1989, 61, no. 73; variant on type 11). There is also an earring with a round plate and similar cross on the back from Silchester (Allason-Jones 1989, 57, no. 59).

Other high status personal objects include finger-rings, which recall Ammianus Marcellinus’ contemporary (if geographically distant) moralizing account of the wealthy bathing in late fourth-century Italy:

When they leave the bath of Silvanus or the spa of Mamae, each of them as he emerges from the water dries himself with a fine linen towel. Then he has his presses opened up and makes a thorough inspection of his shimmering robes, of which he has brought enough to dress eleven people. Finally, he makes his choice and puts them on, takes back from his valet the rings which he has left with him to avoid damage from the water, and goes his way. Ammianus Marcellinus 28.4.18–19, (Hamilton 1986, 361).