Extra month to catch glimpse of treasure
THOUSANDS more people will get the chance to see the Staffordshire Hoard after it was revealed part of the treasure is to stay in Stoke-on-Trent for an extra month.
The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery finished staging a hugely successful 23-day exhibition of some of the prized pieces of Anglo-Saxon gold on Sunday.
Now 59 of these 118 items will be going back on display at the Hanley museum from this Saturday until April 17. A similar number of pieces will be exhibited in Birmingham too.
It will give far more people the opportunity to see the treasure before it is sold off by the Crown.
And it could also give campaigners the vital push they need to hit their £3.3 million fund-raising target so they can buy the hoard and keep it in the West Midlands permanently.
So far, £1.5 million has been raised through public pledges, including more than £152,000 donated in Stoke-on-Trent.
Other major funding bodies have also been approached for help, but the all the money needs to be in place by April 17, or it could be sold off to a private bidder.
Councillor Hazel Lyth, below, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's cabinet member for economic development and culture, said she was delighted the public would have an extra month to view it before this deadline is reached.
She added: "The support from the public for this unique treasure has been incredible, and we are thrilled by the response the Hoard has had during its display in Stoke-on-Trent.
"It has been the most popular exhibition ever staged at our museum. To have raised so much money, and attracted so many visitors, is a credit to the region."
By close of play on Sunday, a total of 52,500 visitors had seen the display at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, beating the 40,000 who went to see the collection in Birmingham.
Now the second, smaller scale, exhibition will be mounted in the museum's archaeology gallery to be seen in the context of other Anglo-Saxon artefacts.
The 59 pieces having another airing will include a delicate filigree gold horse's head, a gold strip with a biblical inscription and a crumpled gold plaque with ornate fish and bird heads.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery's latest display will focus on the other 59 pieces which have already been shown in Stoke-on-Trent.
4 Comments
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 10:01PM
“Who else could I mean Frank -who else?”
by Frank, Bridgend
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 9:21PM
“Hi Mike!
I hope you aren't talking of me in this article?”
by Sean, Longton
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 1:50PM
“Sorry but the rich have never invested in this city, that¿s why its such a derelict mess with very little architectural legacy left for its current residents. Compare Stoke (include Hanley if you want) to most major cities across the UK, its shocking, no investment & bad planning. So with this in mind I can¿t see anyone 'local' stepping in to significantly contribute towards the £3.3M.”
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 1:36PM
“Two questions spring to mind.
Firstly, if one had the chance to visit only one of the 'two separated' parts of the 'treasure'...
Which visit would be the most rewarding -the Potteries Museum? -or, the Birmingham one?
Secondly, given that we are still way off the required amount needed to secure the 'treasure' for our own Museum and the prestige that it would give to the city of Stoke-on-Trent -down the years and on into the future, would it not be too audacious to suggest that one of the many multi-millionaires with close ties to the city -come in before the April deadline, and cough up the remaining cash needed?
I have one glaring tycoon in mind, no names no pack-drill, who could easily accommodate the requirement.
But, perhaps, having not stepped forward already -and given the widespread concern shown by the the people of the Potteries and Staffordshire, one would have thought that he would have already been 'on the mark' -It makes me wonder if he has a trick up his sleeve, -being that if, and when, it does go up for sale on the open market -and the Yanks come bowling across the Atlantic (as they do), he will then step in -and see them all off, securing it for himself -and charging us the earth to go over to his grand residence for an occasional peek?
Just a thought you realise -just a thought.”