Captain Cook shells go on display at Chesters Roman Fort

Described by English Heritage as a “remarkable record of Britain’s role in global trade and its colonial reach in the late 18th century”, the collection is made up of more than 200 specimens.

It includes an extinct species and several believed to have been sent back from Captain Cook’s ill-fated third voyage.

The collection belonged to 18th century Cumbrian woman Bridget Atkinson who amassed more than 1,200 shells from around the world, despite never leaving Britain.

Her grandson John Clayton inherited the shells, which experts say would have been “extraordinarily sought after in the 18th century”.

While most were sold along with her family estate in 1930, hundreds were displayed at Chesters Roman Fort before being loaned to the zoology department of Armstrong College, which is now Newcastle University.

Dr Buchanan’s rescuing of the collection from a skip was inspired by his love of conservation, according to his family.

They said they were “delighted” to see the shells return to the museum to be enjoyed by future generations.