ANCIENT rings, charms and coins were unveiled last night as part of the Athelstan Museum’s newest exhibit.

Thanks to funding from The Art Fund, supported by the Headley Trust, the new attractions are housed in a reinforced glass display case with lights and drawers to The collection, known as Malmesbury Unearthed stretches from Roman times until the modern day and was largely discovered with a metal detector by retired aircraft engineer Chris Cuss, 66.

Mr Cuss said that the finds were all donated to the Athelstan Museum because they showed an interest in buying the gold rings he found from the British Museum and because they were part of the area’s heritage.

The rings were found on the land owned by the Giffords, a couple from Garsdon who have now become fast friends with Mr Cuss after he spent three years searching 12 acres of their land to find the various objects.

Mr Cuss said: “I do it in a methodical manner so I cover every bit of the soil. The gold ring itself was about nine inches deep.”

Mr Cuss’ favourite find was a small lead ampulla, or flask, which he believed may have been used by a farmer to bring holy water from Malmesbury abbey to sprinkle on his fields.

Maria Marsh, the curator at the museum who spearheaded the bid for the two gold rings from the British Museum and the design of the new case, said that she was delighted with the turnout on the evening.

She added: “We have lost count of how many people are here but I don’t think we could fit many more in.

“It all came together wonderfully.”

Museum chairman Ernest Buchner said that the hard work from volunteers and the response from the community were what kept the museum thriving.

He said: “We’re so very grateful to the fund and the Arts Council and the British Museum who helped us bid on this.

“Everyone who is here tonight is connected with the museum in some way. I’ve been in the museum business for 40 years and none of the other museums I’ve run had the same community spirit as this museum.

He finished: “I’m very proud of it.”

The Athelstan Museum’s new display is now open to the public and in the coming weeks the volunteers who run the museum hope to produce a booklet to show the details of the pieces in their new case.

For more information on the new exhibit and the Athelstan Museum visit athelstanmuseum.org.uk/index.html