Winfarthing's Anglo-Saxon treasure to stay in Norfolk

Anglo-Saxon gold treasure found in Winfarthing will stay in the county after a successful fundraising effort by Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery.

Valued at £145,050, grants were needed to secure the nationally-significant treasure or else it would have been at risk of being split up and auctioned off.

The treasure was found by University of East Anglia student Thomas Lucking, from Felixstowe, in December 2014.

Mr Lucking, now 26, was pursuing his hobby of metal-detecting when he recognising he had discovered an undisturbed grave.

Leaving the site intact, he contacted archaeologists from Norfolk County Council's Find Identification and Recording Service to dig up the treasure.

The excavation showed the grave contained an aristocratic woman who is believed to have died between about 650 to 675 AD .

Her jewellery included a large gold pendant, inlaid with hundreds of tiny cloisonné-set garnets, forming sinuous interlacing beasts and geometrical shapes.

Mr Lucking will now share the treasure's reward equally with the landowner.

"Having the treasure on display in Norwich is something we have wanted from the get go," said Mr Lucking.

"I am pleased they have been able to raise the money. I always hoped it would end up staying in Norfolk."

Money from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund and the Friends of Norwich Museums helped to secure the treasure's home in the county.

Councillor John Ward, chairman of Norfolk County Council's joint museums committee, said: "It was crucial that this spectacular find was saved for the nation.

"We are very grateful that funding has been found to allow this to remain in Norfolk."