Prehistoric Shropshire goldwork on display at Shrewsbury Museum

Shropshire Council’s Museum Service has been able to acquire two striking examples of Prehistoric goldwork which went on display at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery this week (from Monday 31 January).

The first exhibit item, the Perry Bracelet, sees the coming together of two sections of a gold bracelet for the first time in around 3,000 years. The first section of the bracelet was excavated near the River Perry in north Shropshire and has been displayed at Whitchurch Heritage Centre since 2006. Two years later the second half of the bracelet was discovered.

The second item, the Telford Torc, is an Iron Age torc necklace which is between 2,300 and 1,900 years old. This is the only recorded example of an Iron Age torc found in Shropshire and is one of the most westerly examples recorded in the British Isles. The torc has been broken into two sections and bent out of shape. One of these breaks could indicate it was made using a tool which crimped the ends of the wires. Other examples of torcs broken before they were buried have been found at from other British sites. This form of torc is a well-known type, and similar examples have been discovered in Norfolk. However finds of this type are rare outside East Anglia.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said:

“This is very exciting news and a remarkable discovery for Shropshire. Finding such items is a very special moment for any metal detectorist and an important moment for our understanding of prehistory. I am sure these significant and beautiful treasures will be a source of awe and inspiration for all to experience, and we – along with the rest of the county – are very much looking forward to enjoying and discovering
their story.”

Shropshire Museum Service had secured grants form the V&A Purchase Fund and Headley Trust to develop the important and extensive collection of Prehistoric material and to keep these items in the public domain. The findings would not have been made without the work of metal detectorists and the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a voluntary recording scheme for archaeological objects found by members of the public.

Phil Scoggins, Interpretation Officer, said:

“Both items are important not only for Shropshire, but are unique to British archaeology for their own reasons. The Perry Bracelet differs from other Bronze Age bracelets in the way it was made. Why it was made this way remains a mystery. The Telford Torc is a very rare and exciting find which shows that this characteristic Iron Age item was worn this far west. What we can never know is whether its owner came here form eastern England or if it was acquired through trade or as a gift. These are questions we will explore in the new museum.”