Latest news with #TimPestell
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Castle confirms summer reopening after long delays
Renovations to Norwich Castle Museum are due to end, almost two years after a projected finish date. Work to refurbish the castle's Norman keep began in 2020 but was held up by the pandemic. Dr Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology, confirmed the finishing touches were being carried out and objects were ready to be installed in the museum for a summer 2025 opening. "It has been an absolute marathon," he said. Dr Pestell said the castle was only two months away from reopening. "We will open this summer. We are on the final stretch," he said. "The display cases are nearly all in now. We have builders doing their tidying up work, ready to come out, and we have the objects ready to be installed. They are being pinned on their backing boards." The project has faced many delays, including some caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. There were problems in obtaining steel, due to the war in Ukraine. In March 2022, the project's contractor Morgan Sindall told the BBC work would be completed by the end of 2023, but more problems arose. Hidden Norman and Victorian features were discovered and a leaking roof needed to be replaced, causing it to miss a revised target of reopening last summer. Named Royal Palace Reborn, the project has included restoring the original floor levels in the keep and recreating the great hall and the apartments of Norman kings. A new gallery of medieval life was also part of the plans. The castle has just acquired what is believed to be the largest collection of 7th Century gold coins found in Britain. The collection includes 129 coins, featuring 118 different designs, that were found by two metal detectorists in a west Norfolk field between 2014 and 2020. Dr Pestell said: "It will be an incredible relief to see that open. It has been an absolute marathon, as it has been for all of the members of our team, but it's going to be amazing. "It's going to be well, well worth the wait." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Museum work delay 'causing financial pressure' City castle reopening date pushed back again Norwich Castle
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Castle confirms summer reopening after long delays
Renovations to Norwich Castle Museum are due to end, almost two years after a projected finish date. Work to refurbish the castle's Norman keep began in 2020 but was held up by the pandemic. Dr Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology, confirmed the finishing touches were being carried out and objects were ready to be installed in the museum for a summer 2025 opening. "It has been an absolute marathon," he said. Dr Pestell said the castle was only two months away from reopening. "We will open this summer. We are on the final stretch," he said. "The display cases are nearly all in now. We have builders doing their tidying up work, ready to come out, and we have the objects ready to be installed. They are being pinned on their backing boards." The project has faced many delays, including some caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. There were problems in obtaining steel, due to the war in Ukraine. In March 2022, the project's contractor Morgan Sindall told the BBC work would be completed by the end of 2023, but more problems arose. Hidden Norman and Victorian features were discovered and a leaking roof needed to be replaced, causing it to miss a revised target of reopening last summer. Named Royal Palace Reborn, the project has included restoring the original floor levels in the keep and recreating the great hall and the apartments of Norman kings. A new gallery of medieval life was also part of the plans. The castle has just acquired what is believed to be the largest collection of 7th Century gold coins found in Britain. The collection includes 129 coins, featuring 118 different designs, that were found by two metal detectorists in a west Norfolk field between 2014 and 2020. Dr Pestell said: "It will be an incredible relief to see that open. It has been an absolute marathon, as it has been for all of the members of our team, but it's going to be amazing. "It's going to be well, well worth the wait." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Museum work delay 'causing financial pressure' City castle reopening date pushed back again Norwich Castle
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Castle acquires largest Anglo-Saxon gold coin hoard
A museum is to become the new home to what is believed to be the largest collection of 7th Century gold coins found in Britain. Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery in Norfolk has acquired the hoard which is made up of 129 coins and includes 118 different coin designs and 51 different European mints. The hoard was discovered by two metal detectorists in a west Norfolk farmer's field between 2014 and 2020. Charles Bingham-Newland, chair of the Friends of the Norwich Museums, said: "The hoard will add immeasurably to our knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon period." The museum has been able to acquire the hoard with funding by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and The Wolfson Foundation. The collection is believed to most contain Frankish tremisses which were minted in the Merovingian Frankish kingdoms that occupied modern-day France, Germany, Switzerland and the Low Countries. They are said to be the first coins made and used in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire and predate the first gold coinage made in Anglo-Saxon England. The find is one of only eight hoards of this type of coin known from Europe and the third in the United Kingdom. Jail for PC who kept gold coin proceeds Largest hoard of gold Anglo-Saxon coins unearthed Anglo-Saxon coin hoard could be worth £400,000 When the coins were declared as treasure by a coroner's court in November 2021, Norwich Castle said it hoped to be able to acquire the hoard. At the time of their discovery, one finder notified the authorities whereas the other tried to sell a number of coins and was jailed for 16 months. Prior to their discovery, the largest hoard of coins from the same period was a purse of 101 coins discovered in Crondall, Hampshire, in 1828. Another purse found that contained 37 coins was discovered at the famous ship burial site in Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, which was excavated in 1939. Giving the coins to the museum will make sure they remain intact and accessible to researchers and visitors. Dr Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology at the castle, said: "This internationally significant find reflects the wealth and continental connections enjoyed by the early Kingdom of East Anglia. "Study of the hoard and its find spot has the potential to unlock our understanding of early trade and exchange systems and the importance of west Norfolk to East Anglia's ruling kings in the 7th Century." The hoard going on display marks the reopening of Norwich Castle's Anglo-Saxon and Viking Gallery which has been closed for several years while work to transform the castle's Norman Keep has been under way. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Museum work delay 'causing financial pressure' Detectorist finds hoard of Roman silver coins Country's treasure hotspots revealed by new data Norwich Castle
BBC News
20-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Norwich Castle acquires largest Anglo-Saxon gold coin hoard
A museum is to become the new home to what is believed to be the largest collection of 7th Century gold coins found in Britain. Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery in Norfolk has acquired the hoard which is made up of 129 coins and includes 118 different coin designs and 51 different European mints. The hoard was discovered by two metal detectorists in a west Norfolk farmer's field between 2014 and 2020. Charles Bingham-Newland, chair of the Friends of the Norwich Museums, said: "The hoard will add immeasurably to our knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon period." The museum has been able to acquire the hoard with funding by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and The Wolfson Foundation. The collection is believed to most contain Frankish tremisses which were minted in the Merovingian Frankish kingdoms that occupied modern-day France, Germany, Switzerland and the Low are said to be the first coins made and used in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire and predate the first gold coinage made in Anglo-Saxon England. The find is one of only eight hoards of this type of coin known from Europe and the third in the United Kingdom. When the coins were declared as treasure by a coroner's court in November 2021, Norwich Castle said it hoped to be able to acquire the hoard. At the time of their discovery, one finder notified the authorities whereas the other tried to sell a number of coins and was jailed for 16 months. Prior to their discovery, the largest hoard of coins from the same period was a purse of 101 coins discovered in Crondall, Hampshire, in 1828. Another purse found that contained 37 coins was discovered at the famous ship burial site in Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, which was excavated in 1939. Giving the coins to the museum will make sure they remain intact and accessible to researchers and visitors. Dr Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology at the castle, said: "This internationally significant find reflects the wealth and continental connections enjoyed by the early Kingdom of East Anglia."Study of the hoard and its find spot has the potential to unlock our understanding of early trade and exchange systems and the importance of west Norfolk to East Anglia's ruling kings in the 7th Century." The hoard going on display marks the reopening of Norwich Castle's Anglo-Saxon and Viking Gallery which has been closed for several years while work to transform the castle's Norman Keep has been under way. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
27-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Export bar on Anglo-Saxon gold panel found near Pocklington
The government has imposed an export bar on a rare Anglo-Saxon gold and garnet panel found in East Yorkshire. The piece of art was discovered by a detectorist in a field near Pocklington in 2013 and has been valued at almost £4, bar temporarily means the object cannot leave the country and provides an opportunity for a UK gallery or institution to buy said the art piece shows clear links to metalwork found at an Anglo-Saxon ship burial site in Sutton Hoo in Suffolk. The trapezoidal-shaped panel has interlocking cells made from strips of gold soldered to a sheet gold backplate and filled with hand-cut said the piece offers insight into the relationship between East Anglia and Northumbria, two of the most powerful kingdoms in 7th Century England. 'Wonderful artefact' As the item has met more than one of the Arts Council reviewing committee's Waverley criteria, the board will advise the government whether it identifies as a national treasure. Committee member Tim Pestell said: "I hope that the bar placed on its export allows a museum to acquire this wonderful artefact as it has much yet to tell us about this pivotal period in English history."Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant added: "This beautiful panel potentially holds information into how the mediaeval kingdoms of this country interacted and co-existed. "I hope a UK buyer can be found so it can be studied further and its stories can be shared with the public."The export bar will last until 23 March 2025 and period owners will have 15 working days to consider any offers. A second deferral period will begin after an option agreement is signed and will last for three months. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
