Hampshire Heritage
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We've put on a great exhibition
Click here to find out more about Alfred the Great.
AN UNIQUE exhibition bringing
together the treasures from
the reign of Alfred the Great
has opened in Winchester.
The display - Alfred the Great: Warfare, Wealth
and Wisdom - is described by the county council
as a once in a lifetime chance to see the objects
under one roof.
It brings together manuscripts, coins, religious
artefacts, weapons, household items and the
priceless Alfred Jewel, one of seven aestels, or
reading pointers on display. The jewel
is made of gold, enamel and rock
crystal and has lettering around the
edge "Aelfred mec heht gewyrcan" or
"Alfred ordered me to be made."
The only English king to be hailed "Great", in
the late ninth century, Alfred prevented
Wessex being defeated by the Vikings
and laid the foundations of the
English nation. He nurtured
education and learning.
The exhibition, which has
cost £200,000, marks the
opening of the £7m
Discovery Centre.
The cost, except for staff
time, has come from outside
funding such as the Heritage
Lottery Fund and the Government.
The council is charging for entry, £5 for adults
and £3 concessions (including Hampshire library
card holders and students).
Caroline Dudley, head of museums and
archives, explained why the council is imposing
an admission charge: "If we want to carry on
doing blockbuster exhibitions we need to build
up a fund for the future."
She hopes that 25,000 people will visit the show
before it closes on April 27.
Ms Dudley said: "It is a unique
exhibition, a gathering of the
most important relics from
the reign of Alfred. We think
it will attract interest from
across Hampshire and all
over the country, even foreign
tourists as well.
"It's extremely important to
us that Alfred has links with
Winchester. Everything he did for
learning is important in the context of
the Discovery Centre which is all about words,
language and discovery."
7:05am Thursday 7th February 2008
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