ABOUT THE TREASURE HOUSE

The Treasure House opened in 2007, thanks to a £3.9m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The building’s state of the art, environmentally controlled stores hold the collections of the East Riding Archives, Beverley Local Studies Library, Beverley Art Gallery, Beverley Guildhall and the Archaeology of the East Riding Museums Service. Visitors will have access to various documents, books, pictures, and historical objects from these vast and fascinating collections.

The easily recognisable tower of the Treasure House acts as a sightseeing platform. This can be accessed via the top floor of the building, and visitors will be treated to superb 360 degree views of the town and Beverley Minster. The Treasure House can also provide binoculars, so visitors are better able to view the surroundings from the tower.

WHAT’S HERE

The space on the first floor of the Treasure House is known as the “Museum Galleries”. In here, one of the most important East Riding collections on permanent display is the nationally important collection of Iron Age swords. These were found in South Cave in 2002, and as a result are referred to as the South Cave Weapons Cache.  In addition to the swords, visitors will also find displays on the geology, natural history, landscape and people of the East Riding.

Upon entering the main entrance of the Treasure House, visitors will find the research room of the East Riding archives and local studies. Access is permitted to a range of rare and unique items associated with the history of the East Riding. Examples include books, old newspapers, documents, photographs, maps, plans and microform resources. Experienced archivists are happy to help with any enquiries, and can also provide assistance with specific searches. To the left of the research room, there is the conservation workshop. In here, specialist conservators will be found restoring fragile historic documents.