Harborough Museum Development Project

The treasure includes more than 5,000 silver and gold coins, a unique silver gilt Roman helmet, jewellery and many other objects. Most of the items date to just before the Roman Conquest, about 2,000 years ago.

The Iron Age and Roman Treasures were acquired by Leicestershire County Council during 2007, in the first stage of the project to make the finds available to the public.

The Southeast Leicestershire Treasure is the archive of material produced by several stages of archaeological work undertaken by local community archaeologists and University of Leicester Archaeological Services. The site proved to be an internationally important ritual site dating mostly to the generations before and after the Roman Conquest of Britain in the 1st century AD.

The purpose of the project is purchase, conserve, interpret and promote the Southeast Leicestershire Treasure.  The cost of the project is £933,872 which includes purchasing the finds, conserving the finds, displays at Harborough Museum and at Hallaton Museum, two touring exhibitions, web based resources, workshops for schools and community groups, and events for the public.

The project is supported by grants from The Heritage Lottery Fund of £650,600, £100,000 from The Art Fund, the UK’s leading independent art charity, £35,000 from the Museums and Art Galleries Improvements Fund, £35,000 from the MLA/V&A Purchase Fund Grant, The Headley Trust, Renaissance East Midlands and local contributions from the Friends of Leicester and Leicestershire Museums, the Leicestershire Museums Archaeological Fieldwork Group and the County Council, as well as private individuals.
Harborough Museum is operated in partnership by Leicestershire County Council, Harborough District Council and the Market Harborough Historical Society.

Find out more about Leicestershire's Treasure! or read the latest issue of the Harborough Helm - Treasure News. Also see: Harborough Museum Closure Details.

For more information about the Southeast Leicestershire Treasure Project, please contact the Keeper of Harborough Museum, on 01858 821087 or email harboroughmuseum@leics.gov.uk