Benty Grange helmet

The Benty Grange helmet is a seventh-century iron-framed headpiece covered with horn panels arranged in a herringbone pattern across its surface. The piece was originally lined with leather or cloth material to provide comfort when worn.

The helmet was made in the seventh century during a transformative period for Anglo-Saxon society. Archaeologists discovered it in 1848 within a burial mound at Benty Grange farm in Derbyshire, where it had likely been buried with a high-ranking warrior.

The helmet blends pagan and Christian imagery through its gilded bronze boar crest and silver cross on the nose guard, showing how beliefs were changing during this era. These mixed religious symbols reveal how people at the time were navigating a shift in their spiritual practices.

You can see the helmet displayed at the Weston Park Museum in Sheffield, where it is kept in a secure exhibition case for preservation. The museum is centrally located and easy to reach with good accessibility for all visitors.

The helmet's fastening system stands out: small silver rivets with double-headed axe-shaped decorative heads hold the structure together. This elaborate craftsmanship suggests the piece was more than a tool of war, but a sign of wealth and rank.