Museum to help protect its treasure with update

HARBOROUGH Museum is carrying out works to update and improve its famous Hallaton Treasure display, which will see five new pieces going on show for the first time.

It is one of the most important Iron Age discoveries ever made in the UK.

The treasure, discovered by a metal detectorist in 2000, includes 5,000 gold and silver Roman coins and a unique cavalry helmet, pictured.

To make sure the Hallaton Treasure can be enjoyed for generations to come, improvements and maintenance is being carried out by Leicestershire County Council on the cases that showcase the Helmet and Iron Age coins.

The Hallaton Helmet is currently on display alongside two cheekpieces.

This work will help protect the objects and is part of a project to display five additional cheekpieces, which have never before been shown to the public.

Councillor Christine Radford, the council’s cabinet member for heritage, leisure and arts, said: “Harborough Museum is a wonderful showcase of the history and people of this vibrant market town and its surroundings.

“These improvement works are important as they aim to protect the artefacts and improve an internationally important gallery in the museum.

“The museum attracts visitors of all ages from within the county and far beyond, and we get so much feedback from them about what a gem it is.”

To allow the works to be carried out, these elements of the Treasure Gallery and the Cut and Create exhibition in the temporary gallery will not be available to view until Tuesday, August 8.

Harborough Museum offers free entry and is open from 10am-6pm Tuesday to Friday, and 10am-4pm on Saturday.

More information about the museum is available at: