Open day to feature Anglo-Saxon brooch

The item, decorated with garnet and gold inlays, was unearthed two years ago and its fine craftsmanship indicates that its owner - thought to be the 25-year-old female whose remains were subsequently found nearby during a controlled excavation - was of high social status.

The brooch, which is a rare type dating from the seventh century, was recently acquired by the council's Museums Service, staff from which will be on hand during the free-to-enter open day at the Museums Resource Centre in Cotswold Dene, Witney Road, Standlake, on October 9, from 10am to 4pm. More about the open day and visiting the centre.

Conservation work

A fundraising project is underway by the Friends of Oxfordshire Museum to help raise around £2,000 from the public to go towards preserving the brooch.

Objects Conservator Sarah Morton will give a talk at the event about the condition of the brooch and the conservation process it will undergo over the next few months.

She said: "This was a significant find both locally and nationally and people now have the opportunity to see this beautiful item first-hand. It appears to have quite an interesting history itself, especially as we think that it belonged to the person that was buried nearby to where it was found.

"The Friends of Oxfordshire Museum are looking to raise some money from the public to help with the conservation of this item. If enough is generated it is hoped that it can be displayed for a day in the Hanneys, so the local community where it was found can view it for themselves."

The find is the twentieth of its type recorded in England and the most western example as most other find-spots are distributed in Kent, East Anglia, Essex and Bedfordshire.

It is hoped that further investigation of the brooch and the skeleton will reveal more about where the piece of jewellery was made and whether its owner was Gewisse (the tribal name of the local Saxons).

Focus on headwear and footwear

The open day will also include an insight into Head Over Heels, a project which has looked closely at footwear and headwear items from the extensive City, University and County collections.

The study will also involve a community project at the Museum of Oxford next February and will culminate with a show named the Accessories Exhibition at The Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock In June 2012.

The open day will include guided tours of the centre, which houses the county's collections of archaeology, history and natural history and is usually only open to the public by appointment. Visitors can also find out more about conservation and what sorts of items are collected by the Museums Service.

Rare opportunity

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: "The Museums Resource Centre has tens of thousands of historical items in store reflecting the changing face of Oxfordshire over the years. This open day is a rare opportunity for the public to see some of the objects that we have through guided tours by experts."

More information about the open day can be obtained by ringing 01865 300937.

Donations towards the brooch conservation project should be sent to the Treasurer of the Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum, Fletcher's House, Park Street, Woodstock OX20 1SN.