The Chew Valley Hoard

The Chew Valley Hoard
Coins. Conquest. Kingdom.

Discover one of Britain’s most remarkable recent treasure discoveries at the Museum of Somerset during a special year-long exhibition from April 2027. Set within this historic Norman stronghold, the exhibition brings the extraordinary Chew Valley Hoard to life for visitors of all ages.

The Chew Valley Hoard consists of 2,584 silver pennies from the period c. 1066-68, and was likely buried for safekeeping in the turmoil of the Norman Conquest. The hoard contains twice as many coins of Harold II than have ever previously been found and increases nearly five times the number of known first-type coins of William I. All the coins of William I are of the very first design, issued shortly after his coronation on Christmas day 1066.

The collection offers a rare and vivid snapshot of England at a time of profound change. These coins were in circulation during the turbulent years following the Battle of Hastings in 1066, when Norman rule started to reshape the country’s landscape, society and economy.

This exhibition will invite you to explore the hoard up close. Discover beautifully preserved coins struck under both Anglo-Saxon and Norman rulers, each one a small but powerful piece of history. Through careful interpretation, interactive displays, engaging storytelling and high-profile loan objects from National institutions, you will uncover what this treasure tells us about wealth, trade and uncertainty in a changing world.

The Museum of Somerset, located within Taunton Castle’s historic walls, offers a welcoming and atmospheric setting for this experience. Taunton Castle itself forms the perfect backdrop. The present stone-built castle was originally founded in the 12th century by Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester and grandson of William the Conqueror, placing your visit firmly within the story of Norman England. 

As part of the European Year of the Normans, this exhibition connects a spectacular discovery with the wider history of power, conflict and daily life in the years that followed the Norman Conquest of England.

Practical information 
Enquiries

Partners: South West Heritage Trust, Somerset Council, Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, British Museum, British Library