This is such good news - part of the Anglo Saxon Hoard is coming to the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in the City Centre early next year. Dating from the 7th Century, it was found earlier this year in a field in the Tamworth/Lichfield area of Staffordshire (the heart of the ancient Anglo Saxon Kingdom of Mercia) by metal detectorist Terry Herbert; as it has been declared treasure trove he and the farmer whose land the hoard was found on will share quite a considerable sum. Some of the items have been on display at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and as I've seen from reports on BBC Midlands Today (link) there have been queues of people visiting it. At present some of the items are on display at the British Museum in London; once it has been valued about 80 pieces from the collection are coming to the city for about 3 weeks. It will be good for the City, good for Tourism and good for me - it will be so close I could walk there!Here is a link to see some of the items - TheStaffordshire Hoard Web Page
Now Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Birmingham City Council are mounting a joint bid to keep the Hoard in Staffordshire; there are about 1,500 pieces in all and as the hoard has been declared to be as important as the Sutton Hoo collection of artefacts I expect some of the pieces will remain at the British Museum to take their place alongside other important collections but it would be wonderful for Staffordshire if some of the items could have a permanent home in the County where they were found.
It's an amazing find! I was really excited when I read about it as there is so little remaining of the Anglo Saxon period.
ReplyDeleteI wish I was nearer to come and view it!
;-)
I must try to get over to see it. I love that museum with its cow creamers!
ReplyDeleteMy froend keeps saying that we should share the cost of a metal detector, and I thought she was insane until this happened!! It makes you wonder what else there is lurking just beneath the surface. I'd love to have a look at it too.
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to find buried treasure. I found some Pesetas buried on a Spanish beach when I was a child so I did discover a treasure of sorts! I have been over to the website about it and will go and have another look.
ReplyDeleteI saw this on the news. It is an amazing find and a huge quantity of gold. I will try to go and see it if I can as it isn't too far away from me. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteI have been following this on the news. What a fantastic find.
ReplyDeleteI hope it stays close where it was found. London does seem to get everything. It would be a great tourist attraction.
ReplyDeleteLove
Lyn
xxx
I shall have to come and see this, I'm interested in the Anglo-Saxon period and this was a wonderful find. I hope it does stay in the area where it was found - it should do as it belongs there.
ReplyDeleteWow.... how fascinating! Looked at some of the photos on Flickr... such amazingly detailed craftsmanship.
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