Historic artefacts are wowing visitors to Melton’s museum

One of the new artefacts at Melton Carnegie Museum, an Anglo-Saxon silver guilt sword pommel cap, dating from between 500 to 700 AD EMN-190514-150602001

Among the items expected to bump up attendance figures at the Thorpe End premises is part of an Anglo-Saxon sword dating back to between 500 and 700AD.

It is one of 50 items being displayed there for the first time.

They arrived with dozens of historic artefacts which were returned to the museum following a painstaking process to clean them by experts in Leicester.

Helen Sharp, archaeology manager for Leicestershire County Council Museums, with a selection of Bronze Age artifacts found locally EMN-190514-150625001

Helen Sharp, archeology manager for Leicestershire County Council Museums, said: “The sword is silver gilt and is beautifully decorated.

“It was found by metal detectorists in Scalford in 2016.

“It has a very high level of workmanship and I’m sure visitors will enjoy looking at it.”

Other new artefacts include an old cremation urn which was found buried at Sproxton and items from the Bronze Age Welby hoard.

Part of the Welby Bronze Age hoard on display at Melton Carnegie Museum EMN-190514-150613001

Ms Sharp said: “We also have a Viking broach found by Melton melton detectorists locally.

“It’s very impressive and because it was made in Scandinavia it is further evidence that the Vikings came over to settle in the Melton area.”

The museum now has new cases so items can be displayed more attractively.

Ms Sharp added: “We will also soon be using digital labels so visitors can tap on a panel and see more informatiion if they want to.”