Expert to lift lid on landmark Saxon helmet discovery

Dr Charles West from the Department of History at Sheffield University, is to detail what the discovery of the Benty Grange warrior helmet meant for the history of Sheffield and how it has changed historians' perceptions of the history of the city.

The artefact, which is held at Weston Park Museum, is one of only a handful of Anglo-Saxon helmets in the country which have survived the centuries.

Dr West said the rare object combines pagan symbolism with novel Christian imagery and helps historians to understand what happened when an ancient religion first arrived in England – and what that meant for the lands around Sheffield in particular.

The Benty Grange helmet was discovered in 1848 in farmland a few miles south of the city centre.

Dr West said that although Sheffield only became a major centre in the 15th century, the discovery of the helmet suggests the region was already embedded in international networks of exchange and trade as early as the eighth century.

He added that the helmet was discovered in what was believed to be a lavish warrior grave, suggesting that the area was in fact more wealthy than previously thought. That wealth probably in part derived from local metalworking – a link with the modern city.

The historian's talk, which takes place at 1pm at Weston Park Museum, forms part of a short series of lectures in partnership with Museums Sheffield where experts from the university take objects or exhibits and explore them in more detail at a public event.

It follows a talk based on the Museum's Sheffield Life and Times displays which explored the history of Park Hill flats, which are currently the focus of a huge redevelopment scheme, and it is hoped that future talks in the series will be held in the New Year.

Dr West said: "It's commonly thought that Sheffield's history begins with the modern period, or even with industrialisation; what most people don't realise is that the area has a deeper, hidden history.

"The Benty Grange helmet, a truly special object, helps reveal how world events have always had an impact in our region."