(Above) The National Heritage Memorial Fund's Dame Jenny Abramsky holds an early medieval folded cross from the Staffordshire Hoard
The National Heritage Memorial Fund has dedicated its most high-profile act of philanthropy to the memory of British soldiers after saving Anglo-Saxon goldmine the Staffordshire Hoard with a £1.285 million grant.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery have been given the final gap in funding for the £3.285 million asking price by the commemorative body, ending a nine-month battle to keep the precious mass of Bronze Age finds in the region where they were unearthed.
NHMF Chair Dame Jenny Abramsky said the vast collection of torcs, helmets, weapons and plaques was "an extraordinary treasure" and "a fitting memorial to those who have given their lives in the service of our nation".
"It is exactly the sort of thing the NMHF was set up to save, stepping in as the fund of last resort when our national heritage is at risk," she suggested.
"We're delighted, in our 30th anniversary year, to be able to make sure it stays just where it belongs, providing rare insights into one of the more mysterious periods of our history."
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery welcomed a record 65,000 visitors in less than three weeks when the Hoard went on display
Both museums witnessed record visitor numbers during their showcases of selections from the Hoard, starting at the Museum and Art Gallery last September before briefly relocating to the Potteries between February 15 and March 5.
They will now enjoy shared permanent displays of the 1,500-item Hoard and "explore the potential" of lending sections of it to other venues.
Appeal organisers admitted needing to raise the final £1.5 million in less than a month when the exhibition returned to Birmingham a fortnight ago, fuelling hopes that a major donor was ready to step in.
Members of the public have pledged a total of £900,000, eclipsing £600,000 in Trust contributions, £300,000 from The Art Fund and £100,000 investments by Birmingham and Stoke City Councils.
Culture Minister Margaret Hodge said the announcement vindicated the Government's decision to provide £15 million in grant-in-aid funding to the NHMF this year.
Planners are exploring the possibility of lending sections of the Hoard to other venues in the UK
"The great thing about the National Heritage Memorial Fund – and the reason we fought so hard to maintain its funding for next year in a tight economic climate – is that it can move quickly to help save items at very short notice," she said, calling it "fantastic news".
"Thanks to this grant, these superb items will be able to stay where they belong."
Amateur metal detector Terry Herbert, who discovered the Hoard in a field near Lichfield last July, will share the proceeds with landowner Fred Johnson.
TV historian David Starkey echoed the emotional sentiments gushed by experts when the 8th century jackpot was found.
"The Staffordshire Hoard provides us with vital clues to our ancient past and now we can set about decoding them," he said.
"I'm delighted that all the other funding bodies and the generous public have helped save these breathtaking treasures for posterity."
Helmet fragments decorated with animals and warriors, decorative plaques in the shape of eagles and Royal torcs star in the Hoard
Councillors wasted little time in instigating a further £1.7 million campaign to support "vital conservation and research work" investigating the Hoard.
"This grant caps a phenomenal fundraising campaign which has highlighted how proud and determined the local community has been to keep the Staffordshire Hoard in the region," reflected Councillor Hazel Lyth, of Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
"This is great news for the whole country, but it is just the beginning. We now need to call on further public support so we can begin to unlock the secrets held within this amazing collection."
On display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery until April 17.
