Cheapside Hoard to take centre-stage at Museum of London

The Cheapside Hoard, one of the largest and most exquisite collections of late 16th and early 17th century jewellery, will take centre stage at an afternoon organised by Birkbeck and the Museum of London on 8 March.

Historians will examine the contents and local context of the collection, which comprises almost 500 precious gems, mounted in some of the finest examples of the gold and silversmith’s arts from Elizabethan and Jacobean London.

Mike Berlin, lecturer in London history at Birkbeck, who is helping to organise the event, said: “This event will illuminate the absolutely amazing collection known as the Cheapside Hoard. We’ll get an opportunity to learn about how the hoard was discovered, how the jewellery was made and what this part of London was like in 1600.

“This is the first in what we hope will be a series of new special events held in partnership with the Museum of London.”

Hazel Forsyth, lead curator at the Museum of London, will give a presentation exploring the highly skilled techniques of jewellers from 400 years ago, while Vanessa Harding, professor of London History at Birkbeck, will investigate what Cheapside, Jacobean London’s luxury shopping street, was like when the hoard came together.

The event takes place on Saturday 8 March from 1pm-4pm at the Museum of London in the City of London. Enrol and buy your £30 ticket for Pop-Up London: The Cheapside Hoard.