In addition to displaying items from the Staffordshire hoard Tamworth Castle also has on display the Glascote Torc.
The Glascote Torc is an Iron Age, gold, silver and copper ally torc, probably dating from the 5th-4th century BC. The Torc was found in 1943 by Mr S. G. bates and Mr G. E. Croshaw whilst digging a drainage ditch in Glascote boat yard next to the Coventry Canal between Glascote and Amington.
In 1970 when Mrs G Bates read an article on ancient torcs she realised the significance of the gold band the family had in a box in their attic.
During our visit to Tamworth castle a descendent of the family told us personal family anecdotes about the the Torc before they family, after reading the newspaper article, realised it had historical significance.
Following this discovery the Torc was held and displayed in The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. After many years of campaigning, in 2025 the Torc has returned home, on loan to Tamworth Castle. It is displayed in a gallery next to the Staffordshire Hoard.
No photography is allowed of the Staffordshire Hoard or the Torc. The picture above shows the replica of the Torc made in 2007.
That is a beautiful torc. Have you seen the Staffordshire Hoard display at Birmingham Museum and Gallery ? It is well worth a visit and photos were allowed. The exhibition has I think been closed for a while but due to re-open at some stage.
We saw the Staffordshire Hoard display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery many years ago.
The new gallery displaying the Hoard has been created. The lady who was overseeing the exhibition at Tamworth showed us some recent photos of the hoard that her friend had sent her. She had been on a guided tour and when I looked we had missed out on the opportunity. The fact that there is a gallery means it must open soon.
The reason photos aren’t allowed at Tamworth is because the items belong to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Oh, I’ve always wanted to visit Tamworth.
Not to see the castle, but to see their pigs
I did visit a castle in Durham last weekend though.
Managed to squeeze in some time to visit Auckland Palace too
But no time left to visit Saltburn.
Locals told me that Saltburn was prettier than Whitby?!
Well, shall I let you debate this?
I have visited Durham Castle and Cathedral. And also Aukland Palace. Did you see the famous Deer House? We completely missed it on our visit!
I have visited many places in that area but I don’t remember visiting Saltburn. So at least for now I am unable to debate the issue