Feel the weight of history with hoard replicas

The public can find out how a Viking hoard feels when replicas of the treasure, discovered in Herefordshire, are made available for close-up inspection.

The actual hoard, found 10 years ago, is on display at a museum in Hereford, although only part of it may be viewed as some items are missing.

That is because the men who made the find sold items to dealers instead of reporting their discovery.

The Museum Resource and Learning Centre said the replicas - which may be inspected on Saturday - felt and weighed exactly the same as the objects in the glass cases.

Herefordshire Hoard consists of artefacts including a gold arm bangle with an animal head clasp, a crystal pendant encased in gold, a gold octagonal ring, and a silver ingot, along with 29 silver coins.

The Herefordshire Museum Service said it was "one of the most significant Viking treasures ever discovered in Western Britain".

The county's head of museums Damian Etheraads said being able to touch items would hopefully give visitors a better appreciation of that which was buried in the ninth century.

"What you don't get when you see them in the cases is a sense of the weight of these things," he explained.

Four people involved in the concealment of the hoard were jailed in 2019, and the hunt for the missing items continues.

The museum estimates they may have included up to 300 coins, with a value of anywhere between £3m and £12m.

Visitors at the weekend will learn about the hoard's discovery and the police investigation into its disappearance.

The hands-on sessions, which have to be pre-booked, last for 90 minutes.

Mr Etheraads said more monthly events to show off the hoard were planned, including an "ask the expert" session next month.

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