Castle reveals exciting new display exhibits
04 March 2025
- Glascote Torc on loan to Tamworth Castle for public display for three years
- Visitors can see new Staffordshire Hoard pieces on exhibit in the castle
- Painting on display of Tamworth town and castle’s historic past
Tamworth Borough Council is proud to announce new additions to its Tamworth Castle exhibits, including the Glascote Torc, new Staffordshire Hoard pieces and three artist paintings: one oil painting and two watercolours.
Tamworth Castle re-opened its doors last month for the Spring season with some new and exciting displays for visitors to enjoy. A big reveal of new exhibits on loan to the castle, include the long-awaited and much requested Glascote Torc. The Iron Age gold alloy collar has finally returned to its hometown, previously held in safe keeping by Birmingham Museum Trust, now displayed in the castle’s Saxon Gallery for all visitors to see for the next three years.
The castle has also received 18 previously unseen pieces of the Staffordshire Hoard. These are new loans from Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham Museum Trust adding to the Saxon Gallery visitor favourites like the pommel caps and the tiny garnet decorated eagle heads that have been retained by popular demand.
The small gold sheet and copper alloy die stamp owned by Tamworth Castle that were local metal detector finds, also remain on display.
Three more items have been revealed including two watercolour paintings, on loan from Birmingham Museum Trust. The Victorian artist, Allen Edward Everitt, born 10 April 1824 – 11 June 1882, was an English architectural artist and illustrator. A leading artist in the Birmingham area between 1850 and 1880, his work is a valuable historical record of local buildings of that period.
One watercolour shows the Great Hall, and the second the Oak Room and depict the rooms how they looked in the 19th century. Both paintings can be seen in their respective rooms over the next three years.
Finally, the Day Parlour has been chosen to showcase a rolling programme of paintings from the castle collections. A different painting will be displayed every few months based on a seasonal and event theme. The first painting on display is 'A View of St Editha's Church and The Old Paregoric Shop, Tamworth in 1856’, by the artist Henry Lark Pratt (1805 - 1873).
This beautiful oil painting, purchased with funding from the ‘Friends of Tamworth Castle’ in 2003, illustrates St Editha’s Church and a late medieval ‘paregoric’ shop, that sold soothing medicines including opium, demolished in 1936.
Along the street can be seen a shepherd driving a flock of sheep. It is an iconic reminder of the constantly changing landscape of Tamworth’s town centre as the Future High Streets regeneration project progresses.
Councillor Lewis Smith, portfolio holder for people services, engagement and leisure for Tamworth Borough Council, said: “These exciting new displays help us understand and explore our rich town history and discover new stories that demonstrate the great importance of our historic town.
“I’m delighted to see that the Glascote Torc is on loan to our castle. This piece was originally found in the early 1940s, by workmen digging a trench at a boat yard between Glascote and Amington canal. In comparison to other Torcs that have been found, Tamworth’s Glascote Torc stands out as being one of the best, so we’re very privileged to have it on display at Tamworth Castle!
“I’d encourage visitors to our castle this season to take a look at the new hoard pieces as well as the beautiful new paintings we have on display. You won’t be disappointed!”
Visitors to the castle should note that photography is not allowed in the Saxon Gallery due to copyright conditions for loan agreements with other museums.
For more information on upcoming events and opening times at Tamworth Castle, visit www.tamworthcastle.co.uk
