At Cuerdale, near Preston, Lancashire, England, the local people had an ancient tradition that there was a treasure somewhere in that vicinity. It had been said from time immemorial that if you stood on the south bank of the River Ribble at Walton le Dale, looking up river towards Ribchester, you would be within sight of England's richest treasure. For centuries people had searched for the fabled treasure, often using divining methods such as forked willow or hazel sticks and silver chains.

Then, on this very wet May day in 1840, workmen walking home from repairing the embankment on the south side of the river marvellously noticed a wooden box exposed by a slump of the rain-sodden earth. The box contained a leaden casket, which in turn held a massive hoard (nearly 40 kilograms, or 88 pounds) of something highly prized by Vikings because they had virtually no mineral deposits of their own �?namely, silver.

The landowner's bailiff made certain that almost the entire hoard was secured, and the labourers, who must have been very honest, were each allowed to retain one coin ...