The Sevso Hoard

HL Deb 06 March 1997 vol 578 cc140-1WA

Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Taking into account the general similarities between the Sevso Hoard of Roman silverware and the hoards found at Mildenhall, Thetford and Water Newton, and noting that the Sevso Hoard was first offered for public sale in London, what evidence they have, in relation to its place of origin, to document the assertion (WA 63, 20 February 1997) that "it did not come from this country"; and whether the possibility of British origin was taken into consideration by the Department of National Heritage Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art before the hoard was permitted to leave the United Kingdom.

Lord Inglewood

It is my understanding that the Sevso Hoard was imported into this country and had documentation to prove its import, and that enquiries were made at the time to verify the authenticity of the documentation. The case was not considered by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art.