As told in the recent BBC podcast ‘Fool’s Gold’, metal detectorists George Powell and Layton Davies discovered a Viking hoard of silver coins and gold jewellery near Leominster in Herefordshire in 2015. This turned out to be one of the most important finds of treasure ever discovered from the Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods, with the potential to change our understanding of English history. Rather than report it, as the law requires, the two men concealed their discovery, and they and their associates attempted to sell the treasure on the black market. However, they were less than discreet about it, and police investigations resulted in the two finders and three of their associates receiving prison sentences.
Dr Gareth Williams, previously a curator at the British Museum, acted as an expert witness in both the criminal trials associated with the case, and was responsible for piecing together the historical significance of the hoard, which dates from precisely the time that England was taking shape as a nation. Come and hear the fascinating inside story of how the hoard was traced by the authorities, and why the contents of the hoard are so important for our understanding of English history.
Tickets are £14 per person and may be purchased in advance to avoid disappointment (see below).
Doors open at 2pm for the performance which begins at 2:30pm.
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