RJohnson

Published at 01:00, Thursday, 13 September 2007

AN Aladdin’s cave of treasure has been found in Cumbria.

A medieval silver brooch, 16 coins and 253 bits of Viking silver went before a treasure trove inquest in Penrith yesterday when south and east Cumbria coroner Mr Ian Smith declared them officially treasure.

The brooch was found on farm land in the Lupton area in April 2006 by metal detectorist Carol Handley.

Dot Bruns, finds liaison officer for Cumbria, said: “It was a stray find in soil. It was broken in three small pieces.”

Experts say the brooch dates back to the late 13th century.

Sixteen coins were found in the Tebay area by Brian Steadman of Kendal’s metal detecting group, scattered across an area about one square mile.

Dot said: “When Brian handed me the coins he knew they were treasure. They date back to the late 16th/early 17th century to the reigns of Elizabeth 1, Charles 1, Charles II and William III.

“They are a mix of shillings and crowns. The silver content isn’t particularly high but it’s more than 10 per cent.”

A pen knife made of wood and iron was also found at Tebay but experts believe it was from a different era and was not classed as treasure.

The third item, 253 bits of broken up silver, including coins, bracelets, chains and ingots, were found by Alan James who was working with North Pennines Archaeology and were part of a Viking hoard.

The coroner declared that all three items were treasure.

The items will now be dealt with by the British Museum in London.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk