The Melsonby Hoard.
On Wednesday, 22nd October, Tom Moore, Professor of Archaeology at Durham University, gave a highly entertaining and informative talk about the Melsonby Hoard, the Iron Age find discovered by a local metal-detectorist near to Stanwick Fort. Professor Moore could barely hide his enthusiasm and amazement at the scale and historical importance of the find, the largest hoard of Iron Age metalwork, horse harnesses, wagons raise money for the conservation and jewellery yet found in Britain, which has opened up many insights and lines of enquiry into late-Iron Age Britain. Some of the finds were unique, such as the remains of a four-wheel wagon, evidence of which has never been seen before from Iron Age Britain. Two particular details brought out by the Professor were, firstly, that Stanwick was much more than a Hill Fort, but rather a Royal site; secondly, the fact that two hoards had been found on the site, which were contemporary with the Stanwick Hoard, discovered nearby in the 1840's. Hence, the title of his talk was 'The Melsonby Hoards'. A Wikipedia search for the Melsonby Hoard will give access to a video of the hoard by the Yorkshire Museum; a Historic England page on the hoard; Durham University website on the hoard; a Countryfile gallery of images and video from Durham University. A Hoard Conservation Fund has been set up by the Yorkshire Museum:
Cheques: Payable to York Museums & Gallery Trust
BACS Transfer:
Please reference: MHOct25
Account Name: York Museums & Gallery Trust
Account Number: 45152550 Sort Code: 40-47-31
During the day, two archaeologists from Durham University, Faye McLean and Henry Morris successfully ran workshops with various year groups at both Richmond School and St Francis Xavier School.
Before he began his talk, Professor Moore presented a prize to 11- year- old student George Rowbotham, who was the winner of the Heritage Quiz, organised by the Civic Society as part of the Heritage Open Days in September. Described by his parents as 'History mad', George would have been especially delighted to have received his prize from a university Professor.
Click here for Pictures of the event.
Colin Grant Graham Berry
Chairman Lecture Secretary
Heritage Open Days.
The Heritage Open Days, run between 12th and 21st September in and around Richmond as part of England’s largest festival of history and culture, were a great success. They included tours of the Richmondshire Museum, St Mary’s Bell Tower, Holy Trinity Chapel, the Georgian Theatre Royal, Foxglove Covert (a local nature reserve), Easby Abbey, the Green Howards Museum, Aske Hall and Estate, Richmond Station and our Old Racecourse and Grandstand. The whole programme was great fun and was planned by Graham Berry, myself and Helga Pearson. Helga’s advice and contacts were invaluable and resulted in press coverage in the Northern Echo, the Darlington and Stockton Times and the Yorkshire Post. Yvonne Finn designed a very attractive programme to further publicise the events.
As well as organising many of the events, Graham also devised a heritage quiz to try and encourage and entertain the younger generation over the summer months. This was won by an 11-year old student who, his mother informed us, was mad keen on local history. Our intention is that Professor Tom Moore will present him with his prize at the talk on the Melsonby Hoard.
I think it is safe to say that, in the main, the events went very well, with Aske Hall and Estate tours being heavily over booked. About 350 people attended the different events.
Colin Grant,
Chairman.
Pictures of the event