Chariots, Treasure and Power: Secrets of the Melsonby Hoard

The Yorkshire Museum announces first look exhibition displaying internationally significant Iron Age find.

The internationally significant North Yorkshire Iron Age find, the Melsonby Hoard will be displayed in the North Yorkshire Museum from 15 May 2026.

Following an incredible fundraising campaign in 2025, the Yorkshire Museum successfully acquired the hoard and is now preparing to unveil a first-look exhibition.

From chariot wheels and cauldrons to horse bridles and spears, the Melsonby Hoard is the largest hoard of Iron Age metalwork to ever be discovered in the United Kingdom.

The exhibition will explore the significance of this once in a generation discovery, showcasing the scale, variety and importance of these objects.

The Yorkshire Museum will tell the story of the hoard so far and try to understand what this discovery confirms and challenges about our current knowledge of Iron Age Britain 2000 years ago.

What is the Melsonby Hoard?

In 2021 metal detectorists unearthed a vast array of Iron Age metalwork in Melsonby North Yorkshire.

Over 800 objects were uncovered, including parts of vehicles such as chariots, weapons and cauldrons, as well as hundreds of individual items.

This is the largest hoard of Iron Age metalwork found in the UK.

The site is located next to the hillfort at Stanwick, the royal capital of Cartimandua, queen of the Brigantes tribe, and less than fifty miles from the Yorkshire Museum.

This hugely significant discovery is an archaeological time capsule from 2,000 years ago which was buried in the first century around the time of the Roman conquest of southern Britain.

The value of the hoard was assessed at £254,000.

Thanks to funding from The National Heritage Memorial Fund, The Yorkshire Museum was successful in raising this amount to save the hoard from private sale, keeping it in a public museum where it will be available for research and public display.

Speaking on the hoard, Dr Andrew Woods, Head of Collections and Research at York Museums Trust said: “We are beyond excited to be able to put the Melsonby Hoard on display for the first time as a large-scale exhibition."

He continued, saying: "We are grateful to Durham University, Historic England and The British Museum for their support and guidance, as well as the overwhelming generosity given across the fundraising campaign which allowed the Yorkshire Museum to acquire the hoard and put it on display.”

The Yorkshire Museum describes the Melsonby Hoard as "a once in a lifetime discovery."

The exhibition will open on 15 May 2026 and will run until summer 2027.

Further details about the exhibition will be announced in due course, along with an exciting programme of events, talks and workshops.

For more information, visit: Yorkshire Museum