British Archaeology

A hoard for Havering

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I was excited to read about the Havering Hoard found just down the road from where I grew up. My 80-year-old mother, who still lives in the area, had a pertinent question: “Why is it being displayed in London Docklands when we have a perfectly good museum here?”

Mum is one of many Friends of the Havering Museum, establishe­d in 2010 in the old Ind Coope Brewery in Romford, to “tell the remarkable story of Havering from pre-history to the present day”. It is completely volunteer led ( www.haveringmu­seum.org.uk/

about). The London Borough of Havering is a modern construct, and the towns in the area, including Rainham where the hoard was found, still carry the postal address Essex: local inhabitant­s don’t consider themselves Londoners. As the artefacts of the Prittlewel­l Prince are now on permanent display at Southend Central Museum (feature Jul/Aug 2019/167), can we expect the Havering Hoard to be repatriate­d to Havering Museum? A prestigiou­s collection like this would make all the difference, whereas it will be just one of many in the Museum of London. Local museums need all the help they can get. Don’t hog all the best finds, Museum of London!

Carol Lewis, Chippenham

 ??  ?? Above: Axes to grind
Above: Axes to grind

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