A spectacular hoard of silver coins, buried in the aftermath of the Norman conquest and now valued at over £4 million, is set to return to the South West of England for a major public exhibition. The Chew Valley Hoard, consisting of 2,584 coins, will go on show in Bath before finding a permanent home in Somerset, following a significant grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
From a Field to a Museum: The Hoard's Journey
The remarkable story began in 2019 when a group of seven metal detectorists made the discovery of a lifetime in a field south of Bath. The hoard was subsequently acquired for the nation by the South West Heritage Trust and has already captivated thousands of visitors during a display at the British Museum in London.
Now, with a grant of £993,345, the Trust has announced an ambitious two-year engagement project. The centrepiece will be an exhibition of the coins at the Roman Baths Museum in Bath from January to March 2027. Afterwards, they will move to a temporary space at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton while a dedicated permanent gallery is constructed for them.
A Window into National Turmoil
Experts believe the treasure was hidden for safekeeping in 1067 or 1068, a period of intense rebellion against William the Conqueror's rule, particularly in the South West. The coins themselves are a tangible record of this pivotal moment.
They feature the faces of two rival kings: Harold II, the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king, and William the Conqueror. Intriguingly, just under half the coins depict Harold, minted mainly in south-east England, possibly indicating financial preparations for the expected Norman invasion. A single coin bears the image of Edward the Confessor.
The collection represents the work of about 100 moneyers from 46 mints across the country, including Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Hastings, London, and York.
More Than Just Treasure: A Conversation Starter
Sam Astill, Chief Executive of the South West Heritage Trust, emphasised that the exhibition aims to be more than a display of wealth. It will prompt visitors to consider historical and personal turning points.
"There will also be a conversation about turning points in history or in people’s lives," Astill said. "The Chew Valley Hoard represents a turning point in our nation’s story... We will ask our visitors to imagine what it must have felt like in 1066 and 1067." He added that the themes of conflict, power, and money remain powerfully relevant today.
The exhibition will coincide with the 1,000th anniversary of William the Conqueror's birth in 1028 and will be supported by a programme of educational activities and events. Federica Smith-Roberts of Somerset Council welcomed the news, stating: "The Chew Valley Hoard is a hugely significant treasure in every sense of the word and we cannot wait to welcome it back home to Somerset."
