Torc too costly for town

An ancient necklace found in fields may have to be displayed in London because a permanent exhibition in Newark would cost too much.

Newark and Sherwood District Council on Tuesday agreed that in the short-term it did not have the money needed to display the Newark Torc in the district.

Members said the British Museum should exhibit the torc and a temporary exhibition could be staged in the Newark area.

It was agreed that the council’s culture task and finish group should discuss and make recommendations to cabinet on the permanent display of the torc in the district, including identifying a suitable location, addressing security issues and securing the necessary money.

The council raised £350,000 through grants and donations to buy the 2,000-year-old necklace.

It was found on farmland near Newark in February, 2005 by metal detector enthusiast Mr Maurice Richardson who lives off Lincoln Road, Newark.

Millgate Museum and the Gilstrap Centre were shortlisted as possible venues for the torc and councillors were due to recommend the most appropriate.

It would cost £84,786 to house it at Millgate Museum and £133,778 to display it at the Gilstrap Centre.

The council leader, Mr Tony Roberts, said the torc was a marvellous piece of history.

He said the council had economic constraints to consider.

“Whatever we do is going to cost a fair amount of money,” he said.

“I would like the torc to be exhibited as part of a much larger exhibition that shows the importance of this district and area in the history of this nation.

“I do not want us to rush into this because it is going to cost a lot. We have to get it right and right first time.”

Mr Peter Harris said people who were interested in Anglo-Saxon history would be interested in the manufacture of torcs.

He said negotiations should be held with the British Museum to see if a temporary exhibition of various torcs could be held in the Newark area. He said it would allow residents to see the Newark Torc in context.

Mr Harris said a replica torc, that the council had had made, should to be kept and displayed in the Newark area.

Mr Brendan Haigh said he suspected the torc would remain at the British Museum for some time.

He hoped Newark Town Hall’s museum would not be ruled out as a potential location.

Mr Roger Jackson said it was important that the torc came back to Newark where it was found.