Guildhall talks- February 09

Guildhall talks

February 2009

 

In the bank, under the bed or a hole in the ground?

 

The February series of free lunchtime talks at the Guildhall organised by Bath & North East Somerset Council investigates three hoards found near Bath.  

 

Stephen Clews, Manager of the Roman Baths and Pump Room explains: “Two of the hoards have been found very recently whilst one was found in the 20th century. They range in date from the late Bronze age to the Medieval period and each of these talks, arranged by Bath & North East Somerset Council, has a very different story to tell, reflecting changing times and circumstances over more than 2,500 years”.

The first talk entitled Pots of money – Roman Style is on Tuesday 10 February at 1pm. This Roman hoard of 11460 nummi, small coins from the Constantine period, was found in a garden in Thornbury, 18 miles from Bath, in 2004. It is one of the largest Roman hoards yet discovered in Britain. Gail Boyle from Bristol Museum discusses its significance. 

The second talk on Tuesday 17 February is about the Monkswood hoard, which was found in the St Catherine's Valley near Bath during the construction of a reservoir in the 1930s. It contains 38 pieces of Bronze Age metalwork. This talk by Stephen Clews, Manager of the Roman Baths & Pump Room, looks at the objects in the hoard from the perspective of what they can tell us about people and society in the area around Bath nearly 3,000 years ago.

The final talk in the series is on Tuesday 24 February at 1pm, entitled Medieval money mystery. This small hoard of medieval silver coins was found near Bath in 2007 and has recently been acquired by the Roman Baths Museum through the operation of the Treasure Act. This talk by Susan Fox, the Council’s Collections Manager at the Roman Baths, investigates the context of its burial. 

All talks take place at the Guildhall, Bath, between 1.10-1.45pm, Refreshments are on sale from 12.45pm, and admission is free. For more information visit www.romanbaths.co.uk/talks

 

 

ENDS

For more information contact:

 

Stephen Clews, Manager of the Roman Baths & Pump Room, 01225 477774, email: stephen_clews@bathnes.gov.uk