Public appeal to keep 3,000-year-old torc in county

A fundraising appeal has been launched to keep a 3,000-year-old golden torc found near Market Harborough in the county.

The jewellery was described as a rare find when it was discovered by metal detectorist Robert Ward in 2024, with just a few examples in the country.

The public appeal has been launched by the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, which said the item was possibly originally worn around its owner's waist, and was later modified to be worn around the neck.

A total of £150,000 needs to be raised to keep the item in the county, and £127,000 has so far been raised from a variety of public groups. The society's appeal aims to raise £10,000 from public donations.

A spokesperson for the society said: "If we can't raise enough, the future of the torc is uncertain.

"It may never be displayed in Leicestershire, and could even end up in the hands of a private collector in the UK or abroad.

"If this were to happen, the object could effectively disappear from sight, denying future generations the opportunity to see for themselves the objects of their own past."

The discovery was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which is managed by the British Museum and records archaeological finds discovered by the public.

It was declared treasure and valued at £150,000.

Leicestershire County Council Museums wants the Bronze Age torc to remain at Harborough Museum, to ensure it stays part of Leicestershire's history.

If the total of £150,000 is not raised, the British Museum has an option to buy the torc, or the finder and owner of the site are able to put it up for sale to the highest bidder.

So far, Leicestershire County Council Museums has raised £127,000 with contributions from the Art Fund, the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, the Market Harborough Historical Society and the Leicestershire Fieldworkers group.

The new public appeal aims to raise at least £10,000 by 20 March.

Society chair Prof Elizabeth Tingle said: "Finds like this are rare, and this beautiful object is a unique and significant object of a type never before found in Leicestershire.

"The torc would be put under the microscope by the University of Leicester's 'A New History of Bronze' project team, which may be able to tell us more about how the torc was made and used."

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