Youngster parts with prized collection for town museum

Six-year-old Archie Ixer has passed a prize collection of pieces of history gathered by his grandfather to Experience Barnsley.

The ammonite fossil, discovered by Archie’s grandfather Leo Pratt during work on Scarborough seafront’s sewage works in 1989, is set to go on display with pottery, believed to be Roman, and other artefacts which have been passed down to the youngster.

His collection will form part of a new interactive display.

The project, dubbed My Museum, launched in July with an appeal which asked children to think about objects they have at home which they would be proud to put on display.

Archie’s mother Julie Pratt, 40, of Park Grove, Barnsley, said: “My dad worked in construction and always loved collecting things. Sometimes they’d have archaeologists digging at sites he was on.

“When Archie started to show an interest his granddad passed them down to him. We visit the museum all the time, so he’s very excited about seeing his things on display there.”