Crowdfunding campaign launched to save 3,000-year-old golden torc discovered near Harborough
A crowdfunding campaign to save a 3,000-year-old golden torc which was discovered near Harborough in 2024 has raised more than £5,000.
The Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society (LAHS) has launched the crowdfunder in a bid to keep the object, which dates back to the Middle Bronze Age period, in the public domain.
The society is aiming to raise £10,000 to help Leicestershire Museums acquire what it describes as ‘a unique object.’
It was discovered in the Harborough district in July 2024 by metal detectorist Robert Ward, and prior to that was last seen when it was buried in a hole with a stone placed on top.
The LAHS describes the torc as ‘a piece of very high-status jewellery, possibly originally worn around the middle like a belt and later modified to be worn around the neck.’
After it was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a coroner declared it as treasure before it was independently valued at £150,000.
The county council museums say they wish to acquire the torc so it stays as part of Leicestershire’s history, and have so far raised £127,000, including contributions from the Art Fund, the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, LAHS, the Market Harborough Historical Society and the Leicestershire Fieldworkers group.
The LAHS are trying to raise the remaining money and have set an initial target of at least £10,000 by March 20 2026.
The LAHS say that if they do not raise enough money the torc may never be displayed in the county, and could end up in the hands of a private collector.
If enough money is raised the torc would be displayed at Harborough Museum in Market Harborough.
LAHS chair Professor 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.
“There is no other torc exactly like it in the whole country, so it is of national as well as local importance.
“We want to make sure that it can come home to Leicestershire and add to our understanding about the Bronze Age in the county.
“We are excited about the plans to research and display the torc at Harborough Museum.
“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.”
The fundraising page has currently raised £5,886 at the time of writing – visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-save-leicestershires-bronze-age-torc