Latest news with #ManxNationalHeritage
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fragment of Viking Age arm ring declared treasure
A "rare" 1,000-year-old gold arm ring discovered in a field by a metal detectorist and declared treasure at an inquest has been put on display for the first time. The fragment of jewellery, which is 1.4 inches (3.7cm) in length and weighs 1oz (27.26g), was unearthed by Ronald Clucas in spring 2025. Mr Clucas said, who has been metal detecting for 50 years, said he had previously found "some wonderful things", but the Viking Age find was "really something else". Manx National Heritage (MNH) curator of archaeology Allison Fox said the understanding of the island's "rich Viking legacy had been further enhanced by the discovery". The piece, which dates back to about between 1,000 and 1,100 AD, was originally created by plaiting eight strands of gold rods together. Ms Fox said such jewellery served as both "prized personal possessions and visible displays of wealth" during the period, which were also used for financial transactions. Ms Fox said the "beautiful find" had been cut twice, to remove the terminal end of the arm ring, with the other cutting the original complete piece almost in half. That suggested it had been used in transactions before being buried in the ground, possibly for safekeeping or "as an offering to the Viking Gods", she added. A member of the Manx Detectorist Society, Mr Clucas has previously unearthed a silver ingot and a lead ingot on the island in 2005. He said gold "generally gives a very low signal on the detector, so you can't really predict what is going to be uncovered". "It was quite a big shock to discover this lovely piece of gold, I couldn't really believe it at first," he added. The arm band has been put on display in the Viking Gallery at the Manx Museum in Douglas. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Viking age coins declared treasure go on display Viking coin 'savings account' declared treasure Viking age silver found by metal detectorist Detectorist's 'disbelief' at second Viking find Manx National Heritage
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Fragment of Viking Age arm ring declared treasure on Isle of Man
A "rare" 1,000-year-old gold arm ring discovered in a field by a metal detectorist and declared treasure at an inquest has been put on display for the first fragment of jewellery, which is 1.4 inches (3.7cm) in length and weighs 1oz (27.26g), was unearthed by Ronald Clucas in spring Clucas said, who has been metal detecting for 50 years, said he had previously found "some wonderful things", but the Viking Age find was "really something else".Manx National Heritage (MNH) curator of archaeology Allison Fox said the understanding of the island's "rich Viking legacy had been further enhanced by the discovery". The piece, which dates back to about between 1,000 and 1,100 AD, was originally created by plaiting eight strands of gold rods together. Ms Fox said such jewellery served as both "prized personal possessions and visible displays of wealth" during the period, which were also used for financial transactions. Ms Fox said the "beautiful find" had been cut twice, to remove the terminal end of the arm ring, with the other cutting the original complete piece almost in suggested it had been used in transactions before being buried in the ground, possibly for safekeeping or "as an offering to the Viking Gods", she added.A member of the Manx Detectorist Society, Mr Clucas has previously unearthed a silver ingot and a lead ingot on the island in said gold "generally gives a very low signal on the detector, so you can't really predict what is going to be uncovered". "It was quite a big shock to discover this lovely piece of gold, I couldn't really believe it at first," he arm band has been put on display in the Viking Gallery at the Manx Museum in Douglas. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fragment of Viking Age arm ring declared treasure
A "rare" 1,000-year-old gold arm ring discovered in a field by a metal detectorist and declared treasure at an inquest has been put on display for the first time. The fragment of jewellery, which is 1.4 inches (3.7cm) in length and weighs 1oz (27.26g), was unearthed by Ronald Clucas in spring 2025. Mr Clucas said, who has been metal detecting for 50 years, said he had previously found "some wonderful things", but the Viking Age find was "really something else". Manx National Heritage (MNH) curator of archaeology Allison Fox said the understanding of the island's "rich Viking legacy had been further enhanced by the discovery". The piece, which dates back to about between 1,000 and 1,100 AD, was originally created by plaiting eight strands of gold rods together. Ms Fox said such jewellery served as both "prized personal possessions and visible displays of wealth" during the period, which were also used for financial transactions. Ms Fox said the "beautiful find" had been cut twice, to remove the terminal end of the arm ring, with the other cutting the original complete piece almost in half. That suggested it had been used in transactions before being buried in the ground, possibly for safekeeping or "as an offering to the Viking Gods", she added. A member of the Manx Detectorist Society, Mr Clucas has previously unearthed a silver ingot and a lead ingot on the island in 2005. He said gold "generally gives a very low signal on the detector, so you can't really predict what is going to be uncovered". "It was quite a big shock to discover this lovely piece of gold, I couldn't really believe it at first," he added. The arm band has been put on display in the Viking Gallery at the Manx Museum in Douglas. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Viking age coins declared treasure go on display Viking coin 'savings account' declared treasure Viking age silver found by metal detectorist Detectorist's 'disbelief' at second Viking find Manx National Heritage
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Tiny UK island that is only open five months of the year with huge sharks
One volunteer compared working there to being on I'm A Celeb ISLAND EXPLORER Tiny UK island 'feels like a sci-fi novel' with dolphins & 12m-long sharks – and it's only open for the next five months THE Calf of Man is now open to visitors for the summer season - but for a limited time. The remote island sits south of the Isle of Man with just two people living there from March to November. Advertisement 5 The Calf of Man is south of the Isle of Man and only 600 acres long Credit: Alamy 5 The island is completely uninhabited apart from a few volunteers Credit: Alamy Uninhabited outside of the season, it is owned by Manx National Heritage who manage the island that is primarily used as a nature reserve and bird observatory. And the Calf of Man has opened up to holidaymakers who can visit the island from May to September, with small ferries leaving from the ports of St Mary or Port Erin from the Isle of Man. Boat trips are available daily during the summer months with weather and tides permitting. All trips depend on the weather, and the island can be cut off for weeks when it's bad because the journey can be dangerous - which is why there are shipwrecks surrounding it. Advertisement Because of this, reaching the shores of the Calf of Man can take between 15 and 40 minutes. On the island, you'll find two ruined lighthouses, but barely any people. The 600 acres island is home to hundreds of birds, seals, dolphins, moths, butterflies and insects that you can spot on your visit. Another popular animal you can find there during the summer is the basking shark. Advertisement Basking sharks can grow up to 12 metres long and swim close to the shore of the island. In the summer, they can be seen feeding on plankton near the surface. While most visitors opt for a day trip, it is possible to stay overnight on the island - in the one accommodation available. Exploring UK Islands: A Journey Through Beautiful Isles (1) 5 Basking sharks are regularly spotted during the summer months Credit: Alamy The Bird Observatory is a self-catered hostel, and on the Island Escapes website, it said that visitors need to 'bring their own food supplies and a sleeping bag'. Advertisement It also adds that 'a stay on the Calf is only suitable for those who are fit enough to cope with the terrain and conditions'. Bookings run from June 2, 2025 until the end of August and the hostel can sleep up to eight people. One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: "Calf of Man is one of those fantasy locations you see in films, or read about in sci-fi novels. 5 Seals like to make an appearance on the shores too Credit: Alamy Advertisement "Upon seeing it in the distance, every one of those stories will spring forth, and you will find your mouth forming an automatic 'wow.'" One woman, Chloe, recently gave up her regular 9-5 for a chance to work as a volunteer on the Calf of Man. She snapped up one of the most remote jobs in the British Isles and became an assistant estate warden. Chloe enjoyed the experience so much she even returned to work as a paid estate warden for a nine months and likened it to being on the TV series I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Advertisement Here are the UK's 'happiest islands' with white sand beaches and attractions older than the Egyptian pyramids. And five islands off the coast of the UK you can visit without needing your passport.
The Sun
7 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Tiny UK island ‘feels like a sci-fi novel' with dolphins & 12m-long sharks – and it's only open for the next five months
THE Calf of Man is now open to visitors for the summer season - but for a limited time. The remote island sits south of the Isle of Man with just two people living there from March to November. 5 5 Uninhabited outside of the season, it is owned by Manx National Heritage who manage the island that is primarily used as a nature reserve and bird observatory. And the Calf of Man has opened up to holidaymakers who can visit the island from May to September, with small ferries leaving from the ports of St Mary or Port Erin from the Isle of Man. Boat trips are available daily during the summer months with weather and tides permitting. All trips depend on the weather, and the island can be cut off for weeks when it's bad because the journey can be dangerous - which is why there are shipwrecks surrounding it. Because of this, reaching the shores of the Calf of Man can take between 15 and 40 minutes. On the island, you'll find two ruined lighthouses, but barely any people. The 600 acres island is home to hundreds of birds, seals, dolphins, moths, butterflies and insects that you can spot on your visit. Another popular animal you can find there during the summer is the basking shark. Basking sharks can grow up to 12 metres long and swim close to the shore of the island. In the summer, they can be seen feeding on plankton near the surface. While most visitors opt for a day trip, it is possible to stay overnight on the island - in the one accommodation available. Exploring UK Islands: A Journey Through Beautiful Isles (1) 5 The Bird Observatory is a self-catered hostel, and on the Island Escapes website, it said that visitors need to 'bring their own food supplies and a sleeping bag'. It also adds that 'a stay on the Calf is only suitable for those who are fit enough to cope with the terrain and conditions'. Bookings run from June 2, 2025 until the end of August and the hostel can sleep up to eight people. One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: "Calf of Man is one of those fantasy locations you see in films, or read about in sci-fi novels. 5 "Upon seeing it in the distance, every one of those stories will spring forth, and you will find your mouth forming an automatic 'wow.'" One woman, Chloe, recently gave up her regular 9-5 for a chance to work as a volunteer on the Calf of Man. She snapped up one of the most remote jobs in the British Isles and became an assistant estate warden. Chloe enjoyed the experience so much she even returned to work as a paid estate warden for a nine months and likened it to being on the TV series I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Here are the UK's 'happiest islands' with white sand beaches and attractions older than the Egyptian pyramids. And five islands off the coast of the UK you can visit without needing your passport. 5
