Tregwynt Hoard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tregwynt Hoard |
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The mansion where the hoard was found.
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| Material | Gold, silver, pottery and lead. |
| Created | est. 1648 |
| Period/culture | English Civil War |
| Discovered | Tregwynt Mansion, Nr Fishguard, in 1996 |
The Tregwynt Hoard is a collection of old coins and a gold ring. It was found in 1996 at Tregwynt Mansion near Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, Wales. This amazing treasure dates back to the middle of the 1600s, a time when the English Civil War was happening. Today, you can see the Tregwynt Hoard at the National Museum Wales. It was the first treasure from the English Civil War ever found in Pembrokeshire.
Contents
Discovering the Hidden Treasure
The Tregwynt Hoard was found in 1996 during building work at Tregwynt Mansion. Workers were preparing to build a tennis court when they found a few coins. This led them to search the area more carefully.
How the Hoard Was Found
A metal detector was used to search the ground, and many more coins were discovered by Roy Lewis. Eventually, a large digging machine (a JCB digger) was brought in to help. Besides the many coins, they also found some lead sheeting. Experts believe this lead was used to cover and protect the hoard. A gold ring was also part of the treasure. This ring had a special message carved inside it: "Better death than false of faith."
Why Was It Hidden?
The latest coin in the hoard was from 1647 or 1648. This date is right at the end of the English Civil War. During this war, people often hid their valuable belongings to keep them safe from damage or theft. Over 200 such hoards have been found from this period.
It's thought the Tregwynt Hoard was hidden when Oliver Cromwell came to Pembrokeshire. He was there to deal with local people who supported the King during the war. The value of the hoard at the time was more than 50 pounds. This was a lot of money back then, equal to about four years of wages for an average soldier! It's possible the money belonged to Llewellin Harries, who lived at the mansion with his twelve children during that time.
What Was in the Hoard?
The Tregwynt Hoard is made up of several valuable items:
- 33 gold coins
- 467 silver coins
- A gold Posie ring (a ring with a short poem or motto on it)
Special Coins in the Hoard
Among the many coins, some are particularly interesting:
- The newest coin is a shilling from 1647 or 1648, which helps date when the hoard was hidden.
- A Scottish coin from 1602, from the time of King James VI of Scotland.
- A one-pound gold coin featuring Charles I of England.
- A silver half-crown coin from Charles I. This coin was made in 1642 at an emergency mint in Shrewsbury, meaning it was made quickly during the war.
Images for kids
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The mansion where the hoard was found.
