after this date.

The Piano

The coins were deliberately hidden within an upright piano made by Broadwood & Sons of London and sold to a music establishment in Essex in 1906. The enterprise which purchased the piano has been traced to two gentleman music teachers / piano tuners Messrs. Beavan & Mothersole of 27, West Road, Saffron Walden Essex. The history of the piano after that time is uncertain. But in 1983 it was purchased by a local family in Saffron Walden area - the new owners, Mr and Mrs Hemming bought the piano for their children to learn to play and it has been in their family until very recently. The Hemmings moved to Shropshire in the late 90's and recently they responded to a request from Bishops CastleCommunity College for a donation of musical instruments. They donated the piano to the school to enable children to learn and enjoy making music.

The Find

The hoard was discovered beneath the keyboard of a piano whilst it was being overhauled and tuned by piano technician and tuner Martin Backhouse. A number of the packages were opened by the tuner who informed the College. On realising the significance of the find the college contacted the coroner's service and were instructed to call Peter Reavill the British Museum's Finds Liaison Officer for the region. The hoard was brought to Peter in its original packaging for analysis.

Peter and staff from the Portable Antiquities Scheme have identified and catalogued the extensive hoard. Within their investigation they found that one of the packages of