Around 150,000 artefacts spanning over 2,000 years of England's history are now on show to the public at English Heritage's Archaeological Store at Wrest Park in Silsoe, Bedfordshire.
From pottery recovered from the moat at London's Jewel Tower to carved stonework recovered from ancient monuments, the exhibition is a fascinating insight into the country's past.
Visitors have the opportunity to journey through history discovering collections as varied as pre-historic antlers and Roman bridges to Victorian banisters and roof beams.
A journey through England’s heritage: More than 150,000 treasures dating back 2,000 years go on display in fascinating insight into country’s past
Wrest Park in Silsoe, Bedfordshire, houses 153,000 English artefacts detailing English history
Over two-and-a-half years of work has seen team restore 80 pallets worth of recovered items
English Heritage's exhibition is open to the general public on the first Monday of each month
By John Hutchinson for MailOnline
19 July 2015
Daily Mail
Around 150,000 artefacts spanning over 2,000 years of England's history are now on show to the public at English Heritage's Archaeological Store at Wrest Park in Silsoe, Bedfordshire.
From pottery recovered from the moat at London's Jewel Tower to carved stonework recovered from ancient monuments, the exhibition is a fascinating insight into the country's past.
Visitors have the opportunity to journey through history discovering collections as varied as pre-historic antlers and Roman bridges to Victorian banisters and roof beams.
Wooden 19th century 'Bell Jack' statues rescued from the roof of the now demolished Columbia Market in Bethnal Green, London are housed at English Heritage's Archaeological Store
A collection of 18th and 19th century pottery pieces recovered from the moat of the Tower of London's Jewel Tower is on display
You best be careful you don't get splinters from this collection of 18th and 19th century doors
Having previously been kept in five buildings across the country, over the past two and a half years a team of documentation officers, curators, museum technicians and archaeologists - all led by English Heritage’s conservation team - checked, documented, repacked and managed the movement of over 80 lorry loads of wooden pallets of crates, boxes and more challenging architectural items.
This included a 28ft cast-iron beam from St George’s Hospital in London. The artefacts at Wrest Park add up to a third of English Heritage’s total stored collection.
Tour highlights include a collection from Kirby Hall in Corby, containing items such as fragments of 16th-century painted window glass, which Sir Christopher Hatton designed to impress Queen Elizabeth I; glass seals from wine bottles; clay pipes with intriguing designs, and ornate clips and buckles that used to be sewn into garments.
A wooden carved Stuart coat of arms is kept in a plastic wrapped crate at the fascinating exhibition
The head of a garden sculpture from London's Chiswick House is just one of more than 153,000 separate objects collected
A sign from Hill Hall prison in Essex is shown at the store at Wrest Park in Silsoe, Bedfordshire
This 18th century storage jug (top) was recovered from the moat of the Tower of London's Jewel Tower, and bottom, stonework from Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire
A 17th century plant pot (left) and cooking pot recovered from the moat of London's Jewel Tower
Larger objects such as bell jacks from the roof of Colombia Market based on 16th century tradesmen towering at almost 8ft, can be seen lining up among the enormous shelves of architectural history as guides and volunteers lead visitors round the store.
Visitors can book a tour on the first Monday of every month.
The collection of historic places now managed by English Heritage has grown to over 400. The government agreed that it would provide £80m to English Heritage if it transferred the national heritage collection to a charitable trust.
This happened on 1 April 2015 when the old English Heritage separated into two parts: a charity that looks after the collections, and Historic England that champions the nation's wider heritage, running the listing system, dealing with planning matters and giving grants.
Archaeological treasures from Lilleshall Abbey fill shelves at the insightful exhibition looking at England's history
Collections volunteer Glynis Yates cleans part of a 17th century cooking pot ready for public viewing
Carved stonework from Rufford Abbey rests on a wooden pallet at the Bedfordshire exhibition
The exhibition is open to the public on the the first Monday of every month and is fun for all the family
18th century storage jugs recovered from the moat of London's Jewel Tower are kept in a crate at the store
From pottery recovered from the moat at London's Jewel Tower to carved stonework recovered from ancient monuments, the exhibition is a fascinating insight into the country's past.
Visitors have the opportunity to journey through history discovering collections as varied as pre-historic antlers and Roman bridges to Victorian banisters and roof beams.
A journey through England’s heritage: More than 150,000 treasures dating back 2,000 years go on display in fascinating insight into country’s past
Wrest Park in Silsoe, Bedfordshire, houses 153,000 English artefacts detailing English history
Over two-and-a-half years of work has seen team restore 80 pallets worth of recovered items
English Heritage's exhibition is open to the general public on the first Monday of each month
By John Hutchinson for MailOnline
19 July 2015
Daily Mail
English Heritage's Archaeological store is housed at Wrest Park in Silsoe, Bedfordshire, with more than 150,000 separate objects Wrest Park Archaeological Collections Store | English Heritage
Around 150,000 artefacts spanning over 2,000 years of England's history are now on show to the public at English Heritage's Archaeological Store at Wrest Park in Silsoe, Bedfordshire.
From pottery recovered from the moat at London's Jewel Tower to carved stonework recovered from ancient monuments, the exhibition is a fascinating insight into the country's past.
Visitors have the opportunity to journey through history discovering collections as varied as pre-historic antlers and Roman bridges to Victorian banisters and roof beams.
Wooden 19th century 'Bell Jack' statues rescued from the roof of the now demolished Columbia Market in Bethnal Green, London are housed at English Heritage's Archaeological Store
Having previously been kept in five buildings across the country, over the past two and a half years a team of documentation officers, curators, museum technicians and archaeologists - all led by English Heritage’s conservation team - checked, documented, repacked and managed the movement of over 80 lorry loads of wooden pallets of crates, boxes and more challenging architectural items.
This included a 28ft cast-iron beam from St George’s Hospital in London. The artefacts at Wrest Park add up to a third of English Heritage’s total stored collection.
Tour highlights include a collection from Kirby Hall in Corby, containing items such as fragments of 16th-century painted window glass, which Sir Christopher Hatton designed to impress Queen Elizabeth I; glass seals from wine bottles; clay pipes with intriguing designs, and ornate clips and buckles that used to be sewn into garments.
A wooden carved Stuart coat of arms is kept in a plastic wrapped crate at the fascinating exhibition
A sign from Hill Hall prison in Essex is shown at the store at Wrest Park in Silsoe, Bedfordshire
This 18th century storage jug (top) was recovered from the moat of the Tower of London's Jewel Tower, and bottom, stonework from Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire
A 17th century plant pot (left) and cooking pot recovered from the moat of London's Jewel Tower
Larger objects such as bell jacks from the roof of Colombia Market based on 16th century tradesmen towering at almost 8ft, can be seen lining up among the enormous shelves of architectural history as guides and volunteers lead visitors round the store.
Visitors can book a tour on the first Monday of every month.
The collection of historic places now managed by English Heritage has grown to over 400. The government agreed that it would provide £80m to English Heritage if it transferred the national heritage collection to a charitable trust.
This happened on 1 April 2015 when the old English Heritage separated into two parts: a charity that looks after the collections, and Historic England that champions the nation's wider heritage, running the listing system, dealing with planning matters and giving grants.
Collections volunteer Glynis Yates cleans part of a 17th century cooking pot ready for public viewing
Carved stonework from Rufford Abbey rests on a wooden pallet at the Bedfordshire exhibition
The exhibition is open to the public on the the first Monday of every month and is fun for all the family
18th century storage jugs recovered from the moat of London's Jewel Tower are kept in a crate at the store
Last edited: