Museum Workshops

Portals to the Past are available for museum workshops

Staffordshire Hoard

King Raedwald of Sutton Hoo, Wulfric, Siward, Athelwulf and Wulfgar at the Potteries museum, Stafford for the end of the Stafforford Hoard Exibition

In early July 2009, a Midlands amateur metal detectorist made the discovery of his life in a field on a farm just outside Brownhills.

Just under the surface of the field was a hoard of gold, silver and other metal objects that was five times larger than that found at Sutton Hoo.

The Portable Antiquities Service was called and over the next couple of weeks the objects were removed.  The discovery was examined by the Coroner and was declared as Treasure as defined by the Treasure Act on 24 September 2009.

The following day, 25 September, it was put on display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.  Within hours of the exhibition opening, the queues stretched around the block.  The hoard hit the headlines all over the world and thousands flocked to view the treasure.  People came from as far away as Australia and California to marvel at the wondrous objects.  Even the Vatican is rumoured to have made enquiries about it. 

Given the people were queuing for anything up to 5 hours, it was felt that the crowds needed to be entertained and informed.  Stuart Davies was asked by the Museum if he and other re-enactors/historical interpreters could help out, by talking to the people waiting in line who were unsure about the historical context of what they were about to see.    Andy Pilkington joined him in the second week as the queues did not seem to get any shorter, despite the Museum extended its opening hours. 

When the exhibition closed on 13 October approximately 63,000 visitors had seen the hoard.  The hoard was then taken to the British Museum in London for valuation, cleaning and interpretation.  It is hoped that some pieces of the treasure will return to Birmingham in early 2010.  The exact future of the hoard is uncertain, but it is hoped that it will return to the Midlands.

Portals to the Past is proud to have been involved with the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery at this exciting time.

Vale of York Viking Hoard

The most fabulous Viking hoard discovered in the UK in 150 years was discovered in North Yorkshire in January 2007. The hoard was on display at the Yorkshire Museum until November 2009.

Thorulf Hammrsson spent 3 days at the Yorkshire museum during the October half term,
helping to celebrate the exhibition of this wonderful  treasure, making coins and chainmail, giving  displays of Viking weapons and armour and regaling audiences with the story of Beowulf.

Thorulf’s comments on seeing the treasure were “ ….stunning…. dazzling……. a treasure of national importance………” His breathe was quite taken away.

To find out more and see pictures of the Vale of York Viking Hoard, please visit
The Yorkshire Museum website.