It has been described as one of the most significant Viking hoards ever found in Britain.
Having been dug up in a field in Leominster in 2015, a successful fundraising campaign that raised £776,250 brought the Herefordshire Hoard back to its home county in 2022.
The 1,100 year old treasure will eventually be put on display in Hereford’s new museum and art gallery when it re-opens in Broad Street in 2025, following its £18 million transformation.
Book early to avoid disappointment
For now, very limited numbers of people are being given the chance to see the hoard. If you want to be among them, you must book in advance.
The hoard will be on display at the Museum Resource and Learning Centre (MRLC) in Friars Street, Hereford on the following dates from 10.00am:
- 19 July
- 12 September
- 11 November
You need to book through the Eventbrite webpage to secure your place.
The Herefordshire Hoard includes a beautiful crystal sphere, mounted in a frame of four gold strips. That pendant is thought to date back to the fifth or seventh centuries. Other items include an octagonal gold ring, a gold bracelet featuring an animal head biting its own tail and a collection of ancient coins. Some of the coins appear to come from the Middle East. Others, featuring the heads of the kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia, are from closer to home.
Damian Etheraads, Herefordshire Council’s museum and gallery lead, says:
“There’s a fair chance that items from the hoard were seen by more people 1,100 years ago than have seen them in this century. The three dates the hoard’s being put on public display at the MRLC give a few more people a chance to see these amazing objects.
“Many people who have seen the hoard comment on the skill of the ancient craftsmen who somehow managed to create really intricate early jewellery.
“When it comes to the coins, people are often surprised that they exist at all. They’re wafer thin. It’s amazing that they survived being buried underground in a field for well over a thousand years. All I can say is I’m very glad they did. The Herefordshire Hoard is a treasure to behold.”