A bracelet which was the first Iron Age gold jewellery ever found in the North of England will remain in the public realm after £25,000 has been raised to secure its future. The bracelet, or torc, was found near Towton in North Yorkshire by metal detectorists in May 2010. A second solid gold bracelet was found close by a year later, and the Yorkshire Museum in York (England) launched an appeal in November to keep both torcs. It is thought the torcs belonged to an extremely wealthy, possibly royal, member of the Brigantes tribe, which ruled much of North Yorkshire during the Iron Age.
     Assistant curator of archaeology, Natalie McCaul, confirmed the £25,000 target had been reached for the first bracelet ahead of a deadline. But she stressed up to £35,000 still needs to be raised to ensure the second torc does not go up for auction, when it could be bought by a private collector. She added: "We have been overwhelmed by the support of the public and local trusts following the appeal and we would like to thank everyone who has donated. Because of their generosity the first Iron Age gold jewellery found in the North will stay permanently in the North for people to enjoy."
     Donations were received from the Patricia & Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust, the Yorkshire Philosophical Society and individuals and businesses. The first torc will remain at the museum. The second will go to London for an inquest to determine its exact value, which could take a year.

Edited from Yorkshire Post (3 February 2012)