Regional Minister praises speedy Staffordshire Hoard valuation agreement
27 Nov 09 - 7 Dec 10
Friday November 27, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
Regional Minister praises speedy Staffordshire Hoard valuation agreement
West Midlands Regional Minister Ian Austin has praised the valuation process over the £3,285,000 Staffordshire Hoard.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Birmingham City Council are to raise funds to jointly acquire the Anglo-Saxon gold and silver, which was yesterday announced as the most valuable treasure find ever made.
The two authorities approved the valuation – made by the Treasure Valuation Committee at the British Museum – and finder Terry Herbert and landowner Fred Johnson also agreed the value and will split the sum equally.
Ian Austin said: "This is excellent news; I am delighted that everyone has come to such a speedy agreement. Now the real work starts to raise the funds to ensure that this unique treasure is displayed in its natural home of the West Midlands.
"The region as a whole must get behind this; and given the outpouring of feelings and emotions so far shown I know that we will be able to achieve this together.
"The Staffordshire Hoard is unique and the positive impact a West Midlands home for the hoard will have on tourism, education and heritage is way beyond the treasure’s price tag."
The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent is now preparing to display the seventh century artefacts from 13 February to 7 March.
The museum will exclusively exhibit items that have never been seen before, along with a selection of the most significant artefacts including folded gold crosses, sword pommels, intricately designed helmet parts and a gold strip bearing a biblical inscription.
Councillor Hazel Lyth, cabinet member for economic development and culture, said: "Experts believe that the outstanding quality of the treasure means it was owned by royalty – we’ll be pulling out all the stops to make sure this breathtaking collection has a home fit for a king.
"We are creating a dedicated gallery space and will have six display cases to accommodate the artefacts.
"It will be the first time this unique find has been displayed in Staffordshire, the county in which it was found, and we are making plans so that as many people as possible can come to see it.
"Next year, 2010, is the hundredth anniversary of the federation of Stoke-on-Trent, and this will really help to kick-start our celebrations. It will bring huge economic benefits to our city and we are thrilled to be able to display it."
Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Birmingham City Council have four months to raise the funds to acquire the 1,800 Staffordshire Hoard artefacts. At a temporary exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in September, a selection of around 80 items of the treasure attracted over 40,000 visitors in just 20 days.
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Note to editors
The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery is the approved repository for archaeological material recovered from within the Staffordshire area. The Museum is recognised by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council as holding archaeological collections of both national and international importance.
For media enquiries, please call Andrew Brunt at Stoke-on-Trent City Council press office on 01782 232671.
