Almost 65,000 people visited Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery throughout the 19 day display of the Staffordshire Hoard, making it the most successful exhibit in the Museum’s history.
Visitor figures for the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery during the 19 day exhibition were 64,775 with 40,063 people seeing the hoard, an average of 2108 people per day. The busiest day was Saturday 10th October when 5964 people visited the museum.
The display of the hoard was unprecedented, with previous finds of this nature going directly to the British Museum for research and valuation. The museum successfully negotiated for a public display of the items prior to this process and the resulting crowds are testimony to its success.
The Staffordshire Hoard, which academics believe dates from the late 6th to early 8th century AD, was declared treasure on 24th September and has been cared for by Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery on behalf of the coroner. It will now be transferred to the British Museum in London for valuation.
Visitors have come from far and wide right across the country and abroad. From Cornwall to Cheshire and from Wales to the East Midlands a significant number of visitors also from the immediate find area around Brownhills, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The hoard has also attracted visitors from Alabama, Bangkok, Canada and California. All the comments are positive and in support of the hoard returning to the Midlands.
Cllr Martin Mullaney, Cabinet Member for Leisure Sport and Culture said:
“I am overwhelmed by the public response to the unprecedented display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Public access was of prime importance to us all and the public have repaid us with their supportive comments and hard earned cash. We have raised in excess of £32,000 already through our fundraising. It has clearly awoken regional pride and identity.
“Working together with our partners, The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke on Trent, as well as other partner museums in Staffordshire, I know we can return the Hoard to its rightful home in the region formerly known as Mercia.”
A fundraising appeal has been launched to keep the Staffordshire Hoard in the Midlands Region. Birmingham City Council and Stoke on Trent City Council are working jointly to acquire the Staffordshire Hoard. Details are available on the Museum’s website at: www.bmag.org.uk/support-us,
For further information on Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, please visit www.bmag.org.uk. For details on the Portable Antiquities Scheme please visit www.finds.org.uk.
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Media contact: Jason Lewis
Tel: 0121 303 4266
email: jason_lewis@birmingham.gov.uk
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You will have heard of the Brown Hill Hoard
Our worthy warrior prince, a well-loved shield brother, great in battle,
High born in the blood of Woden and Offa, wielding war-gear,
ripped with terrible and bitter blows from fearless men,
now Hell possessed, fell breathe-choked at the Brown Hill.
Wary and fearful of the Danes in the East, and reaching into the forest,
the hoard, no less great than his many hard-won and famed victories,
is slipped under the forest floor, out of harm’s way.
Safe in the earth’s keeping, the hard won scrap-gold rests.
What treasures: bright red stones from far distant lands, all wrapped in gold;
the crumpled cross of the Wielder of Glory; and Beasts of The Book.
War-gear wrought with skill: sword-fixings; hilts; cheek-pieces; arm-bands.
The finest war-trappings of the finest men, battle-fallen and gone.
In time a finder comes, Walh halh born, a wood-skilled earth-scourer,
scrap-finder of renown, following the ploughman, a son of John.
Around his Feast Day he tilled the treasure, unlocked the hoard.
Now all hail the ancient and forgotten sword-heroes of middle earth.
P.S. The nearest museum to Brownhills is at Walh halh and context is everything: http://www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk/about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZBgdP1tKvs