RARE and unique treasures are on their way to Lincoln for the first time.
‘Making History: 300 Years of Antiquaries in Britain’ is an exhibition that will be coming to The Collection in Lincoln on Saturday October 17.
Guest curated by celebrated historian Dr David Starkey, and based on the widely acclaimed exhibition
shown at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2007, the exhibition explores the creation of the nation’s heritage over the 300 years since the Society was founded in a London tavern in 1707.
Dawn Heywood, Collections Officer said: “We are very lucky to have some of these items in the county, some for the first time since their discovery, and we hope that the exhibition will be very popular with visitors to The Collection.
“Rarely seen objects from the Society’s collections include the Lindsey Psalter, a lock of Edward IV’s hair and part of a Roman bronze equestrian statue found in Lincoln.
“These will be displayed alongside objects from the museum’s own archaeological collections as well as some more recent finds to provide a narrative illustrating milestones in the discovery, recording, preservation, interpretation and communication of our past, both nationally and regionally.”
Des Gallagher, Acting Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, said: “Alongside protecting and conserving what we value most, the Heritage Lottery Fund aims to give more people the chance to learn about and enjoy our heritage. The Making History exhibition has done exactly this, by giving people up and down the country the treasures that are at the heart of our national heritage.”
Also on display will be items from the Society of Antiquaries’ collections including a Yorkist processional cross recovered from the site of the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, the inventory of Henry VIII’s possessions at the time of his death and a rare copy of Magna Carta.
Dr. David Starkey said: “For me, history has always been as much about things – buildings, paintings, jewels – as written documents.
“So this exhibition won’t simply be a display of the Society’s treasures, wonderful though they are, it’s also an opportunity to show how history is made and why it matters”.
