Tudor Coin Hoard now on display at Ludlow Museum
A Tudor coin hoard discovered in south Ludlow featuring Henry VIII and all his children is now on display at Ludlow Museum at the Buttercross.
The hoard was discovered on farmland by a group of metal detecting friends in 2015 and reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
After being declared treasure under the Treasure Act (1996), it was acquired by Shropshire Museum Service in 2018 with funding from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Headley Trust, and Friends of Ludlow Museum.
The South Ludlow Hoard is now on display at Ludlow Museum at the Buttercross
This small hoard was found by three metal detecting friends on land south of Ludlow during 2015. The hoard is relatively small in nature with 20 coins being recovered. The youngest (newest) coin dating 1561 early in Elizabeth I reign. Interestingly there are coins within the group of Henry VIII and all of his children; Edward VI, Mary, and Elizabeth I. This reflects the tumultuous effects of having four monarchs within 11 years.
There are also some very well-preserved shillings of Mary and her husband Philip of Spain showing them facing each other separated by a crown. The hoard has a face value of 14 shillings (or the equivalent of a labourer’s salary for around three weeks).
More information and images of the Coin Hoard (used with permission of British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme) can be found here.
Peter Reavill, Finds Liaison officer, British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme, said:
“Hoards such as these are not uncommon and this example being found outside the historic town of Ludlow is evidence of its rich and powerful past.
“Ludlow was an important place in the 16th century, being a royal centre – Prince Arthur, 1st son of Henry VIII died in Ludlow castle in 1502. Such small caches as these are probably either purse losses, or possible secretly stashed money deliberately hidden and never recovered.”
Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for leisure and culture, said:
“The display of the Ludlow Purse Hoard is another example of how the Portable Antiquities Scheme helps museums and metal detectorists to work together to record and preserve Shropshire’s heritage.
“We would like to thank the generous support of the Friends of Ludlow Museum and both the V&A Purchase Grant Fund and Headley Trust who have funded the acquisition of the hoard for Shropshire Museums.”
Lottie James, Chairman of the Friends of Ludlow Museum, said:
“I would like to thank the individuals who gave generously to enable the purchase of this hoard.”
Ludlow Museum is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week between 10 am and 4 pm and can be found in the Buttercross building at the top of Broad Street, Ludlow. Entry is just £1 for adults.
Ludlow Museum has a number of important treasures on permanent display including the South Shropshire Ring, The Dinham Pommel and the Bitterley Hoard.
Ludlow Museum at the Buttercross is run by Ludlow Town Council and displays collections owned by Shropshire Museums.
Shropshire Museums is part of Shropshire Council.
More information about the Portable Antiquities Scheme and Treasure can be found here.
Notes for Editors
For more information, please contact:
Peter Reavill – Finds Liaison Officer (Shropshire and Herefordshire)
Portable Antiquities Scheme
Email: peter.reavill@shropshire.gov.uk
Tel: 01743 254748
Web: http://finds.org.uk
Twitter: PAS in the Marches @PeterReavill
