'Unassuming' West Midlands village where the UK’s biggest ever hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver was found
This village became the focus of international attention with the discovery of the UK's largest Anglo-Saxon gold hoard, the Staffordshire Hoard.
The year was 2009, and metal detectorist Terry Herbert, 64, was out near Hammerwich, Staffordshire, when he unexpectedly stumbled across an absolute fortune - the Staffordshire Hoard.
The treasure was found on a farmland belonging to Fred Johnson, but about 1300 years ago, it was the close to the centre of Kingdom of Mercia (Anglo-Saxon).
This hoard filled with treasures, included a collection of 1500 gold and silver pieces that historians have dated back to the 7th century (AD 650-675).
It also includes hundreds of individual pieces that include, an old helmet, weapons, and gorgeous jewellery.
The unassuming village where the Hoard was found
Hammerwich is a rather unassuming Staffordshire village, that is located about three miles away from Lichfield.
Despite being rather diminutive in size, with less than 4000 people living there today, the town has an ancient backstory as it was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the name Humeruuich.
One of the village’s prime sites to visit today is the St John the Baptist Church, this Anglican establishment has been erected in the village since at least the seventh century, although its structure was replaced during the Victorian period.
Another ancient site that visitors can appreciate is the Speedwell’s Mill, which was built in 1779, though it was later converted into a private residence in the early 1900s.
You can check out the hoard which is displayed at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.