British Museum saves Tudor treasure linked to Henry VIII after massive public campaign

It launched an appeal in October as it was keen to save the Tudor Heart - which was found by a metal detectorist in 2019.

In order to put the treasure on permanent display, the British Museum needed to fund a reward to the detectorist who made the discovery, as well as the owner of the land on which it was found.

Some 45,000 members of the public contributed a total of £360,000 in public donations to back the buyout.

It also received funding from grants and arts organisations, including a £500,000 donation from the Julia Rausing Trust.

The National Heritage Memorial fund, which aims to save the most outstanding, at-risk treasures in the country, granted the museum £1.75million.

Nicholas Cullinan, the British Museum's director, said: "I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported our campaign and to the National Heritage Memorial Fund for so generously awarding £1.75million.

"The success of the campaign shows the power of history to spark the imagination and why objects like the Tudor Heart should be in a museum.

The museum director added: “I am looking forward to saying more soon on our plans for it to tour the UK in the future.”

It was found in 2019 by cafe owner and detectorist Charlie Clarke and reported under the Treasure Act 1996, which gives museums and galleries the chance to acquire historical objects.

He said finding the pendant in a Warwickshire field was a "once in a lifetime - no, once in 30 lifetimes" find.

Mr Clarke said he would use the money to give his four-year-old son, also named Charlie, the best education possible.

The pendant is attached to a 75-link-chain and made of 300 grams of 24-carat gold.

It is decorated with a bush bearing the Tudor rose and pomegranate, Katherine's symbol.

Research conducted by the museum suggests it may have been created for a tournament held in October 1518 to mark the betrothal of their daughter to the French heir-apparent.

Henry VIII regularly commissioned London goldsmiths to create jewelry for celebrations and state occasions which were worn briefly by members of the court, according to the British Museum.

Experts have said that nothing similar from the time period still exists today.

Simon Thurley, chairman of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, said: "The Tudor Heart is an extraordinary insight into the culture of Henry VIII’s court, and I am delighted that Memorial Fund support will enable it to go on public display, where people can enjoy it and learn what it tells us about this fascinating period in our history."

The heart has been on display in the museum's gallery two, where it is now set to remain.

The museum hopes to have the pendant formally in the collection later this year.