Mildenhall Great Dish

A PRICELESS treasure from the late Roman Empire is finally coming home to Suffolk.

The Mildenhall Great Dish, which is listed in the top 10 British treasures held by The British Museum, will be on show in Ipswich from July 26.

The dish and other items were discovered in a field which was being ploughed near Mildenhall in 1942, and is said to be the most important collection of late-Roman silver tableware ever found.

The other Roman pieces on display include the Dallinghoo coin hoard found in March 2008, the Holbrook horse harness pendants, the Cavenham Crowns, the Woodbridge silver coin hoard and a unique Roman lantern.

The Great Dish, which features images related to the worship and mythology of Bacchus on land and in the sea, will be returning to Suffolk for the first time as part of The British Museum’s Spotlight Tours, financed by The Art Fund Prize 2011.

Bryony Rudkin, culture portfolio-holder for Ipswich Borough Council, said, “We are proud to be able to display this fine example of late-Roman silverware in Christchurch Mansion and welcome everyone to take this unique opportunity to view it.”

Members of the public will be able to view the display of ‘The Mildenhall Great Dish and Treasures of Roman Suffolk’ free of charge in Christchurch Mansion from July 26 until the end of October.