Museum purchases iron age hoard after fundraiser

The hoard includes a horse brooch thought to be more than 2,000 years old

A museum has successfully purchased an Iron Age hoard, after fundraising more than £11,000 to keep the haul in the county it was discovered.

Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum has brought the hoard - which includes a 2,000-year-old horse brooch, a coin and an enamelled handle from a shallow bowl.

The haul had been found by a metal detectorist in a sealed pottery urn in Rotherfield Peppard near Henley-on-Thames in August 2020.

Having been declared treasure, the county council's museum service was given first dibs on the items and raised £11,725 to purchase it following a fundraising campaign.

The local authority said the haul would eventually be displayed at the free to visit Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock.

It added that the display would feature 3D-printed objects, allowing visitors to experience what it would be like to hold one of the rare artefacts.

A Roman coin was one of the objects discovered inside the buried pottery urn

The acquisition comes after a fundraiser to purchase the haul exceeded its goal after a late surge in donations as the threat of a public sale loomed.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, the council's deputy leader, said: "This hoard, buried nearly 2,000 years ago, really belongs to the people of Oxfordshire, so it's fantastic to see the public rally around this campaign."

"We look forward to seeing this very special hoard on display at the museum once it has been conserved. By acquiring the collection, it is safeguarded for the public forever."

The museum's chairman, Edward Dowler, said he was "very grateful" to those who had donated to its first ever crowdfunder campaign.

"In exceeding the fundraising target, the museum team will be able to deliver enhanced conservation and create an engaging display."

"We are all looking forward to seeing the end result."

Those who donated £20 or more to the fundraising campaign will be invited to a special private viewing of the hoard before the collection goes on public display.