'Too high': Council refuses to stump up for Medieval brooch found in farmer's field

The discovery of the silver gilt brooch in January 2022 had both Caroline and Shropshire Council whooping in delight. They both agreed that they would like to see it displayed in a museum.

Top culture councillor in Shropshire Rob Gittins was quoted as saying: "We look forward to being able to acquire this piece so that it can be put on display in Shrewsbury Museum and enjoyed by everyone.”

Shropshire Council's museums service had officially expressed an interest in acquiring the find under the Treasure Act 1996.

But it seems that the council has gone cold on the idea of buying it, especially after being told the price tag by its new owners, the Crown.

After the find was declared treasure at an inquest held in Shirehall, Shrewsbury, by senior Shropshire and Telford coroner John Ellery, it went off to be valued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport’s Treasure Valuation Committee in London.

Caroline said: "The valuation committee decided to value it at £450, but the council says they disagree with that price and say that they value it at between £60 and £100.

"They liked it so much but they are valuing it at the cost of dinner for three people."

Normally if an item is bought, the proceeds would be split between the finder and the landowner.

But Caroline says she would love to see it displayed locally in a museum so much, she is willing to pay the £450 herself and loan it out to put on display for a couple of years.

"But the council has said no to that, they want it for themselves.

"It is strange that they are fighting so hard for the brooch but they value it so little.

"The next thing will be another independent valuation which may go a bit higher. The thing is I don't want to fight for it, I'm just interested in the history.

"I keep offering to pay for the thing myself and say they can display it for a couple of years but they keep saying no."

A spokesperson for Shropshire Council confirmed that the council thought the expert valuation of £450 was too high.

"Shropshire Council uses grant funding to acquire treasure for its collections, and to comply with funders' terms must seek alternative valuations of items being considered for possible acquisition.

“Although this piece is a fine example, annular brooches of this type are found quite commonly, and that also has an influence on the valuation/decision to seek funding.

“Unfortunately, the Treasure Valuation Committee valuation of £450 is considered too high for us to acquire this piece, which would be added to the Shropshire Council collection but not routinely displayed.”

The silver gilt brooch is decorated with two two-headed animals with saltire crosses and has been dated by the experts as from the 13th century (1200-1299).

At the time of the discovery Emma-Kate Lanyon, curator for Shropshire Council museums service, said: “In medieval times the annular brooch was as much an everyday necessity as an adornment.

"Small brooches like this would have been used to pin and fasten clothing in place by both men and women. They were often given as marriage gifts or love tokens.

“Our display at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery shows that they were made from everyday plain bronze examples to finely decorated gold ones, used to dress lords and nobles.”

Caroline was praised for the way she correctly reported the discovery to the authorities.