Long-lost silver hooks on show at Whitchurch Museum after 1,000 years in the soil

The hooks date back to the late ninth or 10th century and now sit on display at Whitchurch Museum after being found in nearby Prees.

Two metal detectorists found the hooks two years apart from each other and were reported to the coroner before being deemed as treasure.

Peter Reavill, of the Portable Antiquities Scheme for Shropshire and Herefordshire, said: "The hooks are very similar to one another and form a matching pair.

"They are both decorated with similar entwined beasts which oppose one another. The exact beast is unknown – some think they could be hounds or hunting dogs, while others say that they are deer.

"The craftsmen who made the tags would have hand-carved or chased the intricate design from the flat panel and then filled the grooves with niello.

"Niello is made of silver, lead and copper and when applied would have been a blue-black colour.

"A thousand years in the Shropshire soil has removed most of this surface, but originally the design would have been one of contrasts between bright silver hound and a dull black-coloured background."

Mr Reavill added that it wasn't known what the silver hooks were used for but some believe they were used on clothing or on satchels or bags and would probably have belonged to someone with a high status. He said: "We do know that Whitchurch was an important Roman town being positioned between the important cities of Uriconium (Wroxeter) and Castrum (Chester).

"Although we have very few finds of Saxon date there is nothing to suggest that its regional importance at the heart of the Roman road network, doesn't continue into the Saxon and Medieval periods.

"Our current lack of understanding of the period makes the discovery and reporting of these finds especially precious.

"The two detectorists who found the hooks have shed light on a very poorly understood part of our history."

They have now been bought by the museum supported by the Art Fund, Whitchurch Town Council, Prees Parish Council, Shropshire Archaeological Society, and Whitchurch Historical and Archaeological Group.

Peggy Mullock, Shropshire Councillor for Whitchurch North, said: "This is a great coup for Whitchurch and the local area – it's only right that the tags should be kept in the museum nearest to where they were found."

Dr Judith Hoyle, volunteer curator at Whitchurch Museum & Archives, said: "As an accredited museum Whitchurch Heritage Centre was offered the chance to acquire these important items of Treasure by The British Museum. Thanks to a substantial grant from the Art Fund and the generosity of groups and individuals we were able to raise the amount of money required.

"There are currently no early medieval items in the collection and so the pair of silver tags nicely bridge the gap between our Roman and late medieval finds.

"These important artefacts not only enhance the collection but showcase the talents and abilities of previous inhabitants of the area."