Metal detecting?

[Cecile]

I read a sign in the local feed merchants, it was asking if a club (Metal detecting) could pay landowners £100 to come onto land, insurance is in order, no massive graves dug, share 50/50 on any finds and they will take away any metal rubbish they find

My husbands reaction was not a chance

However I have always been fascinated with the history of my bit of paradise, it was used as an RAF camp during the war and I even found an old deregulated *Top Secret* map of my land from war time, it clearly sets out where the officers and servants quarters were along with various other area's

Has anyone allowed a metal detecting group/club to go around their land?
Someone once bought me a metal detector but I would rather stick pins in my eyes than wander around all day waving it about so I gave the gift back

 

[AFB]

I think I'd want to do it myself to keep my finds because I'm greedy! But I see your point RE pins in eyes, so I couldn't see any harm in letting others. (Provided it wasn't a big group that would inconvenience you)

 

[Orangehorse]

So long as they sign an agreement that says that they will share finds and have insurance, etc. and they should be members of a recognised club that submits finds to the local museum, they should be OK. You can always telephone the museum to speak to the relevant staff member to see if they are known and legitimate.

We have had metal detectors over here for many years. About 5 years ago another couple turned up and asked permission. I flourished my legal document in front of them (I think the farmers club had a talk about it at some time) and told them that they probably wouldn't find anything as it had been well covered over many years.

Well they have found lots - 17th century posy ring, several Roman silver coins, a Roman ring (lovely but rather too damaged), other things I can't remember and several gold coins. All went to the British Museum for cataloguing and valuation and I ended up with a Celtic gold coin with a little horse on it that I have had made into a necklace.

If they do find anything valuable don't talk about it in the local pub, as you may find unauthorised people trampling all over the place. We heard from the other side of the county from another farmer that there had been a valuable find on our land, but of course it was making a mountain out of a molehill and figures always expand in the telling.

 

[cowgirl16]

Our YO allows detectorists to go into our fields. Saw one last week in fact - didn't have a clue who it was - just saw a bloke sitting down eating his lunch! This was in a field full of horses too. The horses didn't seem bothered. I realised when he stood up what he was doing. They can't get into my field as it's padlocked and surrounded with electric fence - which is fortunate as the ginger ninja would pretty soon see them off! I have to say that it would concern me - even if they do have the appropriate insurances - I'd worry about gates being left open - horses bothering them etc. I didn't realise these people pay landowners to do this. No wonder our YO allows it. Don't suppose he bothers to ask about insurance though.

 

[Snuffles]

My OH was a detectorist. He had permission on two large estates. There was an agreement for any finds to be shared if sold. One landowner kept to this, the other (the largest estate) did not and kept the finds and proceeds! There are many *nighthawks* that detect illegally and keep their finds. OH said that in belonging to a club that had legal access they were very vigilant about the illegal people, so in a way that protected the finds and the land as the illegal diggers often don't care about restoring the ground afterwards.

 

[Beausmate]

I've had a chap detecting in my field from time to time. Doesn't bother me, or the horses but I do quite like someone legit coming in at odd times, as it may help deter the uninvited from dropping by.

He has found a few interesting things and left no sign of his having been there and dug holes.

 

[Cecile]

Thank you for all the replies, you have all answered many of the questions I had rolling around in my head and added a few answers to ones I hadn't even considered

I will look into it further before committing myself but I am quite interested, I would feel slightly guilty if they gave me money and found nothing but I don't believe that would happen

 

[Fragglerock]

I did. He was no problem, fields were left tidy, he took any rubbish he found and would have split anything of value. He didn't pay though - I never thought of that.

 

[turnbuckle]

Don't worry, they almost certainly will find nothing.

My view - check them out thoroughly, ask for heaps of references and if they sound OK crack on. Just think...dusk is falling and you're standing by a muddy hole letting rivers of GOLD trickle through your hands.

Oh dear I seem to be getting excited.

 

[Cecile]

Don't worry, they almost certainly will find nothing.

My view - check them out thoroughly, ask for heaps of references and if they sound OK crack on. Just think...dusk is falling and you're standing by a muddy hole letting rivers of GOLD trickle through your hands.

Oh dear I seem to be getting excited.

Probably find 6 old hoof picks that the dog has buried, a buried old bike from years gone by and a stash of ammunition left over from the RAF camp. A hand grenade was found in a local farmers field which resulted in the bomb squad blowing it up so it could turn out to be an interesting event but hopefully not that eventful.......

 

[pixie]

We have several who go over our paddocks and crop fields. We don't expect them to pay, as its no problem them being there. They usually offer the occasional bottle of wine and will always show us their finds. I've found them very handy in the cases of lost shoes, as they tend to find them quickly (even when I've been over the fields thoroughly several times when poo picking!)

 

[millikins]

I answered a post on here asking permission to detect. Really nice chap who found lots of medieval harness buckles, a silver thimble and various coins from a Victorian threepence, Elizabethan sixpence and what he said was his find of the year, a Henry VII silver half groat. He insisted I kept them, even mounted them in a little frame. I love the thought of that long historical link, there were people like us walking about dropping coins etc back to 1490.

 

[MagicMelon]

Wow, they actually pay to do it down south? My OH does it as a hobby with a friend, he simply asks local farmers and landowners (we live in a very rural area) and 90% of them are perfectly happy and couldnt really care less! He's found the best stuff round ruined old mansion houses, mainly coins including some hammered ones which are worth a few hundred each, otherwise some old army badges and a couple of pretty Victorian brooches etc. Anything special looking has to be sent to Treasure Trove and they give you money if they think its important. Im surprised detectorists want to pay just to do random fields, my OH sits down and studies old maps to see where things used to be (like we have a Roman road running right by our house and a nearby huge Roman camp although thats protected). So its very aimed where he goes. No point just randomly doing it in any field so unless your field actually has some history then I wouldnt bother!

 

[millikins]

The chap who came to me said it's really difficult to get permission and most places where you are allowed have been all searched out. (Surrey)

 

[Orangehorse]

We have never been offered any direct money, apart from our latest two were asking if they could arrange a club day and we would get some money for that.

Other things that have been found were some spitfire bullets and some musket balls.

Of course they mostly find bits of machinery, horseshoes and buttons.

 

[ineew]

Yeah, they are doing metal detecting.
Not only adults do metal detecting ,but also children do metal detecting.
Especially manufacturer produces children's metal detectors sale.