How did I get involved with metal detecting? For as long as I can remember I have been interested in archaeology and finding things from the past. Haunting museums, visiting any “digs” that I heard of, collecting fossils, pottery, clay pipes, in fact anything that had a history held a fascination for me.                                                       Foot Patten 18-19C

I collected Victorian / Edwardian bottles during the 1970s and 80s and the majority were dug from old rubbish tips. This may sound messy but after so many years there was mainly ash left behind and the excitement of not knowing what might be dug up next kept the interest going. Although I still collect bottles when they become available the digging gradually came to an end as the local areas became exhausted. What I needed was another source of interest and having read a little about metal detecting the idea of finding things from the earth seemed like a good thing to try. My father in law had a basic detector and that became my first machine.
                                     Harness buckle - 19C.

The first thing required to go detecting is permission to search the land and the majority of landowners that I have asked for permission to go onto their fields have granted it , for which I am very grateful. In the beginning finds were plentiful but consisted mainly of silver foil, milk bottle tops and ring pulls from cans. There were however enough interesting items to keep my enthusiasm going and a new collection started.

Technology soon had better machines available for detecting and over the years I have tried different models gradually updating to the one I use today which has discrimination facilities enabling the rejection of a lot of the undesirable metal objects that lie buried beneath our feet. You can never tell what the next signal will produce and it is that anticipation which makes it so fascinating for me.

Coins or artifacts from the past evoke a sense of the period when they were in use and trying to imagine who last held these things and why were they lost is a feeling that is hard to explain. Who held their clothing together with this Fibula brooch in the 4th Cent, what would this silver penny buy in 1350, how did this buckle get lost and what on earth is this?

Yes some things are a mystery when they are unearthed but there are lots of books to consult and the museums are there to help you out with their knowledge and over a period of time you gradually build up quite a good knowledge of your own. Researching the items found is an essential part of the hobby and it really does bring history to life. Keyhole horseshoe - 17C

Apart from the things lost in the past I am always willing to look for anything metallic that you might have lost if you can point me to the area. It is not always successful but I will try!

Tony 01934 862358