Long before Newark-on-Trent became known for its market stalls, Civil War sieges, and suspiciously enthusiastic reenactors, it was already making headlines—albeit 2,000 years too early for the Newark Advertiser. Enter the Newark Torc: a dazzling Iron Age neck ornament that proves even ancient Britons knew how to accessorise with flair.

 

Discovery: From Tree Surgeon to Treasure Hunter

 

In February 2005, Maurice Richardson, a local tree surgeon with a metal detector and a hunch, stumbled upon what would become one of the most significant finds of Iron Age Celtic gold jewellery in half a century. While most of us find bottle caps and rusty nails in fields, Maurice found a 700-gramme gold alloy torc—because Newark doesn’t do things by halves

 

The torc was buried in a pit on the outskirts of town, not lost in a drunken Iron Age stumble as one might hope, but deliberately hoarded. Possibly as an offering to the gods. Or perhaps just hidden by someone who didn’t trust Iron Age banks. Either way, it was declared a national treasure (just with less Nicholas Cage) and acquired for Newark’s Museum (now part of the National Civil War Centre) in 2006, thanks to a hefty grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund

 

 

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Design: Gold, Glamour, and a Bit of Norfolk

 

The Newark Torc is made from a mix of gold, silver, and copper—because plain gold is just too basic. It measures 20 cm in diameter and weighs in at a neck-straining 1.5 pounds. The body is formed from eight finely plaited wires twisted into a single rope, ending in ring-shaped terminals adorned with floral and point-work designs. It’s the Iron Age equivalent of haute couture.

 

Experts believe it was made or finished by the same person as another torc found in Netherurd in Scotland.. This suggests either a travelling goldsmith with a flair for symmetry or a very niche Iron Age Etsy shop.

There is also suggestion that the Torc was stolen by Vikings at one point!!

 

Purpose: Jewellery, Power Symbol, or Ritual Bling?

 

What was the torc for? No one knows for sure. It could have been a status symbol, a religious offering, or simply the Iron Age version of a flex. Jeremy Hill of the British Museum described it as “an extraordinary object” showing “an incredibly high level of technological skill and artistry

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In other words, it wasn’t your average neckwear.

 

Theories abound: perhaps it was worn by a tribal leader, a druid, or someone who just really wanted to be noticed at the local roundhouse gathering. Whatever the case, it was buried with care, suggesting reverence—or at least a very cautious owner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legacy: Newark’s Shining Star

 

Today, the Newark Torc is proudly displayed at the National Civil War Centre, where it gleams under glass and sits there,  judging your jewellery choices and demanding you add more bling to your life. It’s been featured on the BBC, in academic journals, and in the dreams of every amateur detectorist in the East Midlands.

 

It stands as a testament to Newark’s long and glittering history—proof that even in 200 BC, the people of this town had a taste for the finer things. And while we may never know exactly who wore it or why, one thing’s certain: Newark-on-Trent has always had a golden touch.

For more info on torcs, check out the fantastic Tess Machlings big book of Torcs - https://bigbookoftorcs.com/