Suffolk County Council funding helps bring one of Britain's greatest Roman treasures to life

The Mildenhall Treasure Mixed Reality Exhibition uses immersive technology to bring the story of the famous Roman hoard to life. Developed by digital heritage specialists Xibitr in partnership with Mildenhall Museum, the exhibition allows visitors to explore a digital recreation of the original discovery site and interact with detailed 3D models of the treasure using mixed reality headsets.

Discovered near Mildenhall in 1942, the treasure consists of 34 pieces of late Roman silverware and is regarded as one of the most important Roman finds ever made in Britain. While the original collection is housed at the British Museum, the exhibition gives people the chance to experience its story in an engaging and interactive way.

The Culture Project Fund grant was awarded to Mildenhall Museum, which worked in partnership with Xibitr to develop the project. Home to a collection of authentic replicas of the Mildenhall Treasure, the museum is helping bring this internationally significant piece of Suffolk's heritage to new audiences through the touring mixed reality exhibition, which is visiting venues across West Suffolk.

The exhibition will visit:

• The Apex, Bury St Edmunds from 29 – 31 October 2026
• The Haverhill Arts Centre, Haverhill from 9 – 12 November 2026
• The National Horseracing Museum, Newmarket from 12 – 15 January 2027

Cllr June Mummery, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Coastal Affairs, Communities and Public Health, joined Cllr Paul Sutton, Suffolk County Council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Public Health, Cllr Ian Shipp, West Suffolk Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, and Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council, at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds this week to experience the exhibition and see first-hand how the Culture Project Fund is supporting innovative cultural projects in Suffolk.

The Apex is owned and managed by West Suffolk Council.

Cllr Mummery, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for coastal affairs, communities and public health, said:

“This is a fantastic project that takes an important part of Suffolk's history and presents it in a way that's interactive, engaging and accessible to new audiences. We're proud to have helped make it happen and I hope lots of people take the opportunity to experience it for themselves.”

Cllr Ian Shipp, West Suffolk Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture and Ward Member for Kingsway and Market in Mildenhall, said:

“The story of the Mildenhall treasure is a famous and fabulous part of our history and heritage here in West Suffolk. We are absolutely delighted to work with Xibitr, Mildenhall Museum, and Suffolk County Council who have funded this, to see this told in such a fun and engaging way at The Apex and across the district. It’s a chance to dig for treasure and then discover even more of the story at the Mildenhall Museum.”

Lloyd Hughes, Trustee and Treasurer at Mildenhall Museum, said:

“Mildenhall Museum are delighted to be able to partner with Xibitr to bring the story of the Mildenhall Treasure to life in a way that enables the greatest number of people to appreciate how magnificent a find it is. We hope that, after they have experienced the virtual reality program, they will want to visit the Museum and see for themselves the beauty of the silver replicas on show. Later in 2027 the Museum will have a permanent VR experience, courtesy of Xibitr, to allow visitors to once again dig for treasure.”

Ian Dance and James Lee Burgess, Directors at Xibitr, said:

“We are incredibly honoured to be recreating the Mildenhall Treasure and bringing this extraordinary piece of local history back to life in an immersive and engaging way. The Mildenhall Museum has been a fantastic partner throughout the project, and we’ve loved working together to create an experience that we hope will capture the imagination of visitors of all ages. Our aim is for the public to discover more about their local heritage while having a bit of fun along the way — uncovering their own treasure and exploring it in finer detail, just as a real archaeologist might. We hope this experience inspires curiosity, encourages people to learn more about the remarkable history on their doorstep, and most importantly, enjoy the process of discovery.”