Stoke-on-Trent has successfully secured one of Britain's rarest archaeological finds after a £150,000 fundraising campaign. The 3,000-year-old solid gold dress fastener, discovered near Ellastone by a metal detectorist in 2023, has been declared Treasure and will remain in the county. This is the first of its kind found in Britain in nearly 30 years, with only seven others recorded across England and Wales.
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke has now acquired the artefact following donations from members of the public, Arts Council England, the V&A, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. According to museum curator Joe Perry, the object would have been worn exclusively by the highest levels of Bronze Age society as a symbol of wealth and status. The gold fastener represents a significant addition to Stoke's collection of nationally important treasures.
The find sits alongside other major discoveries in the region, including the Staffordshire Hoard and Leekfrith Torcs, cementing Stoke's place as home to some of Britain's most important gold treasures. These discoveries highlight the archaeological significance of the area and its rich Bronze Age heritage.
The gold fastener will go on public display at the Potteries Museum from spring 2027 when the building fully reopens following its major renovation. Replicas of the artefact will be created for the Festival of Archaeology in July and Heritage Open Days in September, giving local residents early opportunities to see this remarkable piece of history ahead of the museum's reopening celebration.