A TREASURE of national importance from the Chew Valley is sparking local imagination to inspire a new project.

Valley Arts have partnered with the South West Heritage Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund to celebrate the extraordinary Chew Valley Hoard - the most valuable treasure ever recorded in Britain.

Join Amal Khreisheh, senior curator at the South West Heritage Trust, as she shares the remarkable story behind this record-breaking find.

Discovered in January 2019 by seven local metal detectorists, the hoard of 2,584 silver pennies dates from the turbulent years of the Norman Conquest (c.1066–68). Acquired by the South West Heritage Trust in October 2024, with a value of £4.3-million, it now holds the title of the highest-value treasure ever officially recorded.

This fascinating collection not only sheds new light on the history of the South West but also connects the Chew Valley to a pivotal moment in England’s story. Amal will reveal how and why the hoard may have been buried and how it remained hidden beneath Somerset soil for nearly a thousand years.

Following Amal’s presentation, Valley Arts invites the community to join the conversation and help shape a large-scale creative celebration planned for summer 2026, when the Hoard will make its journey from the British Museum to its permanent home in Somerset.

An event will be held on Tuesday, November 4, at 7.30pm in Chew Valley School.

Further events without Amal will be held on Thursday, November 6, at 6.30pm in Stanton Drew Village Hall, and on Wednesday, November 12, at 7.30pm in West Harptree Memorial Hall.

Admission is free and all are welcome. Tickets can be bookd on www.valley-arts.co.uk

For those unable to attend but who are interested in becoming part of the creative journey, email [email protected]