[MR] History Blog & BBC: Treasure News from Britain

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today I wish to call your attention to two significant treasure stores.

A Saxon noble woman's grave in Harpole, Northamptonshire, in 2022 has
revealed two major treasure items, which were removed as blocks of soil.
The first was a necklace with over 30 Roman coins and semi-precious stones.
Then x-rays of a second block revealed a large cross featuring a huge
garnet. So far only the garnet has been exposed as conservers carefully
remove the soil.

The BBC story on the Harpole finds is at
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-64428086 .

The History Blog also reported this story at
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-64428086 .

The other story is about a heart-shaped gold and enamel locket
commemorating the marriage of Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon. The locket
and its chain were found by metal detectorist in a Warwickshire field in
2019, and immediately reported to authorities. The now-cleaned piece has
just gone on display at the British Museum.

Whether the locket actually belonged to Henry or Catherine cannot be
determined. It may have been a prize awarded by the Royal couple at a
joust, or one commissioned by an admiring courtier. It is a truly unique
item.

The illustrated History Blog story is found at
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66341 .

The BBC story is at
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-64469038 .

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆