A collection of Roman treasure unearthed in Norfolk is to go on display at museums across the county and out on the road, thanks to a large lottery grant.

A collection of Roman treasure unearthed in Norfolk is to go on display at museums across the county and out on the road, thanks to a large lottery grant.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded its 100th lottery grant in Norwich to the Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service.

The £26,800 grant will help the service acquire a collection of Roman coins, artefacts and a hoard of pewter vessels discovered at Hockwold, near Brandon.

The items were found by a metal detector enthusiast, working with the support of archaeologists, who got involved after looters had been scouring the site.

The collection is made up of more than 250 objects, including ancient pewter vessels and jewellery, as well as more than 2,000 coins.

Together they form one of the most comprehensive collections from any Roman temple site known in the

UK.

Robin Llewellyn, HLF manager for the east of England, said: “I am thrilled to see this fantastic project awarded as the 100th grant to Norwich. It is an exciting scheme that will offer everyone the chance to get close to locally-found Roman artefacts in Norfolk's most popular musueum.”

Dr Tim Pestell, Norwich Castle Museum's curator of archaeology, said: “It's incredibly important because we don't get many finds of Roman tableware.

“This is the third pewter hoard from Hockwold. We have got the other two so were very keen to have this one.

“The project is not simply about buying and conserving the objects, it's about creating an educational package to reach out to the public in Norfolk and creating a website so people outside the county can enjoy it.”

The grant will allow the collection to be presented and displayed to the public for the first time within the HLF-funded Boudica Galley at the Castle Museum.

A programme of activities will be created for local people to show them how these artefacts fit into the county's wider history.

Some of the items will also be displayed at other museums in the county, including Thetford's Ancient House next April, and will also be taken out on the road so that schoolchildren can learn more about them.

Charles Clarke, MP for Norwich South, said: “I am delighted that this fantastic project has received a lottery grant. I believe that it is important for that we have the chance to preserve our local heritage and this money will help to ensure that.”

Dr Ian Gibson, MP for Norwich North, said: “This is the heritage of people who live in the city and I'm very grateful the Heritage Lottery Fund to allow the museums service to acquire this treasure trove.

“This will help young people understand the origins and the richness of the county they live in.”