Today, South West Heritage Trust is announcing a £993,345 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver an ambitious two-year engagement project to celebrate the Chew Valley Hoard and mark the 1,000th anniversary of William the Conqueror’s birth.
Comprising 2,584 silver coins, the Chew Valley Hoard is the highest-value treasure acquisition on record and comes from the period of turmoil immediately following the Norman Conquest. Thanks to the grant award, an exciting new gallery will be created at The Museum of Somerset dedicated to the permanent display of the remarkable collection.
The project includes a dynamic two-year community engagement programme featuring activities, exhibitions, learning opportunities and events that will open up wider public access to this remarkable archaeological discovery. The award will also support improved access and visitor facilities at the museum, housed in Taunton Castle, strengthening commercial opportunities and raising the profile of Somerset’s heritage.
The project is timed to coincide with international plans in 2027 to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of William the Conqueror’s birth, highlighting the Norman Conquest and its lasting impact on the nation’s history.
South West Heritage Trust Chief-Executive Sam Astill said:
We are tremendously grateful to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, audiences will have the chance to explore this national treasure through an exciting and diverse programme of engagement activities. This award also signifies a major investment in the museum’s future, helping us improve access, broaden participation, and ensure this remarkable collection can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Stuart McLeod, Director of London and South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
We’re proud to continue supporting South West Heritage Trust in bringing the Chew Valley Hoard to life for communities across Somerset and beyond. This remarkable collection tells a unique story of one of the most transformative periods in our history. Thanks to National Lottery players, it will be preserved and shared through an ambitious programme of exhibitions and engagement, helping to tell the history of the hoard and inspire curiosity and discovery for generations to come.
Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council’s Executive Member for Communities, Housing and Culture, said:
The Chew Valley Hoard is a hugely significant treasure in every sense of the word and we cannot wait to welcome it back home to Somerset. Now, thanks to this fantastic investment from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the excellent work by the South West Heritage Trust, we can ensure an important part of our past is enjoyed and celebrated long into the future.
Communities will get their first chance to see coins in the South West at a special touring exhibition at the Roman Baths Museum, Bath, running from January to March 2027. From spring 2027, a special exhibition will open at The Museum Somerset, Taunton, offering the public a unique opportunity to explore the remarkable story of the Hoard and its discovery.
