A NEW museum to house the treasures of the Saxon king could finally become reality, following a £2.8million Thames Gateway grant for culture in Southend.
Some of the money will be used for a study into where the relics, which are considered of international importance, could be housed.
They are currently in the Museum of London because there is no suitable site in Southend.
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However, it is not yet clear where the museum would be.
David Garston, Southend councillor responsible for culture, said: "It is important we have the money to identify a site for a new museum and this allows us to carry the project forward.
"Ideally, we would like to see a museum combined with restoration work on the cliffs slip, in Western Esplanade.
"However, the council has agreed to look at any other suitable sites within the town centre, which could be combined if necessary with the existing Central Museum, in Victoria Avenue, on a new site."
It is believed possible new sites could tie in with the redevelopment of the Warriors Swim Centre and the proposed development of Tylers Avenue car park. However, both these schemes would need considerable investment from the private sector if they were to go ahead.
In 2003, archaeologists working near Priory Park in Prittlewell uncovered the burial chamber of a wealthy seventh-century aristocrat, discovering items forming the most significant archaeological discovery of its kind for 50 years.
Many items, including a gold buckle, and foil Christian crosses, were placed on display at Southend Museum in 2004, attracting record num
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