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Peter Walker raised £760 from 27 supporters
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Closed 08/06/2018
Iʼve raised £760 to help bring the piano hoard home to Saffron Walden
- Saffron Walden, UK
- Funded on Friday, 8th June 2018
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Story
In 2017, a hoard of hundreds of coins was found inside a piano in Shropshire. Investigations showed that the coins were hidden by a Saffron Walden resident in the early 20th century.
The coins date from between 1847 and 1915. They were deliberately hidden inside a Broadway upright piano by a Saffron Walden resident sometime in or after 1926. We know this because the piano has a plaque reading ‘Supplied by Beavan & Mothersole, 27 West Road, Saffron Walden’. Beavan and Mothersole were piano suppliers, tuners and music professors.
The coins were placed into small packages and pouches, carefully made from cardboard and covered with fabric. One of the pouches was made from a cereal box and the branding on the box helps us to date it to between 1926 and 1946.
We don’t know why the owner of the piano hid the coins or why they were never retrieved. Perhaps they simply considered it a safe place to hide their family’s wealth. Perhaps the coins were hidden during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The questions surrounding this hoard only add to its intrigue and appeal.
The coins remained hidden until the piano was moved to Shropshire and donated to a local school. A piano tuner discovered the coins and reported it to the local Finds Liaison Officer.
Because of the value of the coins and the fact that they were deliberately hidden, they have been classed as Treasure under the Treasure Act of 1996. Saffron Walden Museum would like to acquire a selection of the coins and the piano, so that we can display them in the museum and create education sessions for local schools.
Can you help us bring these coins, and their intriguing story, home to Saffron Walden?
(All funds raised will go to Saffron Walden Museum Society Ltd - registered charity 1123209 - for the purchase of the coins and piano)
Updates
1
- 7 years ago
Peter Walker
7 years agoA huge thank you to everyone who has donated to our campaign to bring the piano hoard home to Saffron Walden! We have now surpassed our target for crowdfunding!
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Peter Walker started crowdfunding
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Supporters
27
Andrew Frostick
Jun 7, 2018
As a former owner of 27 West Road, I am pleased to offer my support
£100.00
Richard Priestley
Mar 13, 2018
£30.00
David Hoy
Mar 12, 2018
Pleased to support the piano and coins coming back to Saffron Walden.Diana & David Hoy
£100.00
Anonymous
Mar 10, 2018
Peter ROOLEY
Mar 10, 2018
Happy to help to bring the Piano hoard to the Saffron Walden Museum.
£20.00
Mark Starte
Mar 9, 2018
Great project, happy to support.
£20.00
Peter Adams
Feb 28, 2018
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