THE Lacock Cup, which is renowned as England's most important piece of medieval silver, is to go on show in Devizes as part of an exhibition of showcasing 100 important objects from the county.

The cup, which dates from the 15th century, used to be owned by St Cyriac's, Lacock, but was sold in 2013 for £1.3 million to the British Museum to pay for church restoration.

But now it is coming home to Wiltshire and will be on display at Wiltshire Museum from May 16 to July 16.

Museum director David Dawson said he was excited about having the important piece on show in the museum. He said: "We hope it will attract a lot of visitors."

The silver-gilt cup was used at feasts by the Lord of the Manor of Corsham but during the Reformation was given to the church and was used by its congregation as a chalice for communion wine for more than 400 years.

But it was on loan to the British Museum since 1963 as it was considered too valuable for use. The British Museum and Wiltshire Museum jointly acquired the cup, one of the most significant pieces of secular English medieval silver, with support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and private donations.

The Wiltshire in 100 objects exhibition was inspired by the British Museum/BBC Story of the World in 100 Objects.

Mr Dawson said: "The objects on display illustrate the diverse aspects of Wiltshire’s past from Stonehenge to the Moonrakers and much more besides.

"The exhibition also celebrates the variety of Wiltshire’s museums, including volunteer-run village museums, industrial sites, art galleries and museums with internationally important collections. The 100 objects, ranging from a sarsen maul used as a hand tool by the builders of Stonehenge to an aircraft bomb sight, manufactured at Westinghouse, Chippenham in 1945 are a real cabinet of curiosities, each with its unique role to play in telling Wiltshire’s story."

Since 2013 the Lacock Cup has been on display in the British Museum’s Sir Paul and Lady Ruddock Gallery of Medieval Europe alongside treasures from the period such as the Royal Gold Cup and the Lewis Chessmen.

The museum in Devizes is home to the best Bronze Age archaeology collection in Britain, drawn from the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, and the collections are designated by the Government as being of national significance.

At the time of the cup being sold Mr Dawson said it was a coup for the museum to be jointly involved with the British Museum on the acquisition.

He said: “It is a privilege to be working with the British Museum to jointly acquire this important cup.

"This is the first time they have bought an object with a small, independent museum and it recognises the importance of both the Lacock Cup and the Wiltshire Museum.”