Lichfield Cathedral claim on historic Staffordshire hoard

By akeller

SOME of the staggering gold haul unearthed in Hammerwich should go on display in Lichfield Cathedral, the city's MP said this week.

In a move backed by church leaders, Michael Fabricant said elements of The Staffordshire Hoard, discovered by a Burntwood man in a field near his home, should stay local.

"It would be excellent for some, if not all, of the gold – particularly those items with religious significance – to be shown alongside other religious articles in the cathedral," the MP said.

"We are all agreed that they should find a local home and I do not believe that either Birmingham or Stoke are 'local', as far as Lichfield and Burntwood people are concerned.

"If some of those items are to be permanently displayed in Lichfield Cathedral then it may be necessary to introduce, in due course, an entrance fee.

"That fee would help offset the huge costs recently incurred by the cathedral following the Heritage Lottery Fund's rejection of the Lichfield Inspires project."

Described as the 'most significant hoard' of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found, the collection is currently at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

The haul of 1,500 individual items dating back to between 675 and 725AD – and confirmed as treasure trove – is said to be artistically and historically 'impossible to price'.

Discovered in July by metal detectorist Terry Herbert in a farmer friend's field, the find has generated massive debate among archaeologists and historians.

But it has also sparked something of a gold fever among various Midlands authorities, with many quick to stake a claim.

"I shall also be raising this matter with the secretary of state for culture," added Mr Fabricant.

"The gold should remain in our area – even Birmingham is too far."

This week, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery promised to 'work closely with partners' to raise the cash to permanently acquire the hoard.

Well over 10,000 people have already queued to see items on display in the second city.

Although the British Museum initially supported the hoard's ultimate return to the Midlands, it will go to London on October 13 for valuation.

Canon Pete Wilcox, from Lichfield Cathedral, said church leaders are 'thrilled' at the discovery.

"Any permanent display of The Staffordshire Hoard must surely be as local as possible," he said.

"Even if the cathedral is unlikely to be the right place for that, to display some of the hoard alongside our own Saxon artefacts for a period of time would be a very exciting development."

Canon Wilcox said there is 'no evidence' that the hoard originated in the cathedral or was directly associated with St Chad.

But it consolidates scholars' belief, since the discovery of the Lichfield Angel in 2003, that eighth century Lichfield was a far greater centre of wealth and culture than previously thought.

"Our St Chad Gospels are also key evidence of this," added Canon Wilcox.

"There are now three stunning local artefacts surviving from that period.

"No-one should look at our eighth century angel and gospel book without reference to the Anglo Saxon gold, and no-one should try to interpret The Staffordshire Hoard except in relation to the Chad Gospels and the Lichfield Angel."

See pages 4-6 for more on The Staffordshire Hoard.