Staffordshire Hoard

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The Hawk said:
Been down this morning. I thought it was really well organised, just the right number of people so its not too crowded.
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With regard to booking being 'essential' - i have heard today that there are quite a few 'time slots' that have not been booked, so it may be possible to just turn up and go in if you happen to be in the 'hood.

Just so's you know. :)
 
Andreas Rex

Andreas Rex

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Thanks for all the info...have booked myself in on Monday and am really looking forward to it!

One of the things I studied for GCSE English was a poem about Tollund Man by Seamus Heaney...I found it rather fascinating as a youngster and went to the museum in Denmark a few years later to see him for myself. History in front of your own eyes....excellent.
 
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Andreas Rex said:
...have booked myself in on Monday and am really looking forward to it!
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Have booked myself in for not next week but the week after - hugely regretting it now as i simply cannot wait that long!

Happy Hoarding one and all.
 
Scoot Doggy Dogg

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Withnail said:
Andreas Rex said:
...have booked myself in on Monday and am really looking forward to it!
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Have booked myself in for not next week but the week after - hugely regretting it now as i simply cannot wait that long!

Happy Hoarding one and all.
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There's still plenty left it seems. Us and the in-laws going friday and my folks going sat.

Perhaps, call Gatehouse to cancel your current booking and get yerself an earlier one? Failing that, go twice... :D
 
highguyuk

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I went to see the hoard in Birmingham around 12 months ago ... I must admit to being slightly disappointed with it!

Whilst it's good, don't get me wrong, with all the hype and media interest I did think it would be better.
 
Andreas Rex

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highguyuk said:
I went to see the hoard in Birmingham around 12 months ago ... I must admit to being slightly disappointed with it!

Whilst it's good, don't get me wrong, with all the hype and media interest I did think it would be better.
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Yeah I felt exactly the same. It wasn't anywhere near as grand an exhibition as I'd been expecting and hoping for, but fascinating nevertheless.
 
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Andreas Rex said:
highguyuk said:
I went to see the hoard in Birmingham around 12 months ago ... I must admit to being slightly disappointed with it!

Whilst it's good, don't get me wrong, with all the hype and media interest I did think it would be better.
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Yeah I felt exactly the same. It wasn't anywhere near as grand an exhibition as I'd been expecting and hoping for, but fascinating nevertheless.
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I have managed to have a very sneaky peek (last week) and can appreciate where you are both coming from.

I have my full forty-five tomorrow and am very much looking forward to it still, but for anybody yet to go, i would say it is probably worth doing just a little bit of homework first. The Wikipedia entry is an excellent introduction to the background to the finds, what they are and what significance they have - it also has interesting notes and external links to put it all in context.

Bear in mind that this is just a sample of the finds - i'm not sure how many there are in this exhibition but i'd say it was ~30 or so, and some of them are very small - so don't go in expecting to see hundreds of pieces. They do have a few magnifying glasses inside, but each session can have as many as 130-odd people, so if you have a magnifying glass take it with you - you will appreciate some of the items much more with a bit of magnification.

My plan for tomorrow is to take my time and look at all the sideshow elements first* - my sneaky peek was at the very end of a 'time slot' and there were only a handful of people left in there - most people are going to spend 30 or so of their 45 mins perusal before moving on, 15 mins as good as alone with the pieces is probably enough for most people.

I'm rambling a bit i know - if nothing else, remember to take a magnifying glass.

*If by any chance somebody on here also has the 11.00 am timeslot and wants an over-enthusiastic guide, send me a pm, and instead of turning left as soon as you get inside the doors, turn right and head towards the folded cross - password is 'Scrubbers!' and/or 'little tarts, they love it'.
 
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Also handy advice would be not to go at 11.00am! Or 2.00pm i'm informed - these are the busiest times, outside of them you will have a better experience. They do have magnifying glasses in there, but not 130 of them, so take one if you have one.

Also, go and visit Out of Darkness - An exhibition of the unique and irreplaceable group of Anglo-Saxon Charters held by the County - at the Staffs Record Office

on account of it being really good. :)

Oh, and also go see
Out of the Dark Ages: Stafford’s Anglo-Saxon Origins
Mercian Trail Linked History Exhibition

Rare treasures reveal the emergence of the kingdom of Mercia and the origins and development of Saxon Stafford. In support of the launch of Professor Martin Carver’s book ‘Birth of a Borough’.

Supported by The British Museum, Professor Martin Carver, The Potteries Museum, The Trustees of the William Salt Library SCC, SAMS and local collections.
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at the High House on account of that being really good too.
 
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It's the last week of the Hoard at the Shire Hall - last Wednesday saw the 10,000th visitor through the doors.

Apart from the 11.00 -11.45 and 2.00 - 2.45 slots, there is every chance of being able to go in without pre-booking - don't miss it folks.
 
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Staffordshire (Ogley Hay for cognoscenti) Hoard said:
The Staffordshire Hoard on Tour has already attracted 21,085 visitors to the Shire Hall Gallery in Stafford during a hugely successful three week run from Saturday July 2 to Sunday 24 July.
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1000 visitors per day - well done Stafford :stafford:

Stafford Post said:
Visits to church at all-time high

Mr Thomas said he thought people, choosing to holiday in England, may be flocking to the church as part of a trip to the historic county town
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Or they may have gone there after seeing the Hoard - all in all a top quality expo, a big :bravo: to all involved in bringing it here.

Next up in Lichfield.
 
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Beeb 2 at 8pm tonight (hopefully iPlayer afterwards)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01bf4h6

Saxon Hoard: A Golden Discovery

TV historian Dan Snow travels across the old Kingdom of Mercia unravelling the secrets of one of Britian's most significant discoveries - the Staffordshire Hoard. The Hoard offers 1500 new clues into the Dark Ages and Dan pieces together the lives of the people living in these long-forgotten kingdoms.
 
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Programme included this chap, a Staffordian* that some will remember from the Lynton.

Didn't see the Poor Cnights of St. Chad credited at the end of the prog though :?:



*actually, i don't know whether he's a born 'n' bred etc, but he certainly lives here now
 
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^ It worketh now...

Seeing as this thread has nothing to do with either pubs or eating out, it might be worth moving it - but to where?

Given that the Hoard is on show at the BMAG and the Potteries Museum i'm guessing 'Surrounding Areas' would be the most appropriate?

P.S. go and see the Staffordshire Hoard :)
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Withnail said:
Seeing as this thread has nothing to do with either pubs or eating out, it might be worth moving it - but to where?
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Again, like the Blood Donation thread, it goes back to when this was 'Out and About'..

Maybe we just have to put up with the odd grey area - like when a serious TV programme is put into 'Entertainment'..
 
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