Metal detecting - Any stories to share?

SideWinder

SideWinder

SideWinder

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Anyone do a bit of metal detecting on the beach? Any stories to share? Are you allowed to keep what you find if its on a public beach?

I randomly started watching that Pirate Gold show on Netflix (kinda interesting but very American in that they keep interviewing the cast who explain what they are doing and then we watch them do it and then they do another interview and they explain what they just did...) and it inspired me a bit.
 
The Crown own all coastal land like beaches afaik. Well the Crown actually own all land full stop a fact most people probably don't know, so technically on a beach you'd should declare it and especially so if it's a historic piece.

Funny was just thinking of metal detecting and whether I should go out, must be the good weather that brings it on.
 
Richard - London said:
You have to hand it to the police, if it isn't claimed in a set time its yours.
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jsmoke said:
The Crown own all coastal land like beaches afaik. Well the Crown actually own all land full stop a fact most people probably don't know, so technically on a beach you'd should declare it and especially so if it's a historic piece.
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Pfft. Dreams smashed. :(

Well,no harm in looking around I guess. Could find some interesting things.
 
I did a bit about 10 years ago. Found mostly bits of maritime scrap and the occasional bullet. Nothing of significant interest. It got me out of the house for a while but it became apparent quite soon that to be able to find the stuff that all the other detectors hadn’t already picked up, it needed some seriously expensive kit.

Note that most metal detectors perform poorly on salt water beaches. I had a Garret Sea Hunter which was designed for use in salt water and was able to pick up bits that others couldn’t.

If you have a grand to ***** on it then give it a go. Most people get bored quickly and pass the kit on.
 
Funnily enough I was looking at metal detectors the other night. Been thinking about it on and off since during lock down. The weather is great just now, so probably a good time to get out and about detectoring.

I think for crown-owned beaches you are now free to detect on and no longer need permission. Council owned I’m not sure and it may differ from council to council.

Btw just because something is ‘public’ doesn’t mean you don’t need permission. This will apply to parks, woodland and riverbanks etc. Worth a Google to know where you stand legally.

What detector do you have? Currently looking at a minelab Equinox 800 as I’ve heard good things.
 
@naefeart - I don't own one to be honest. I think I'd feel a bit self conscious doing it on a 'popular beach' so perhaps somewhere more remote/quiet. :p

Just pondering it really.

@Scuzi - I accept your offer of £1000 for a metal detector and I'll DM you my Monzo details. :)
 
Look up NH Beach metaldetecting on YouTube. He ha a wealth of knowledge about how the tides work and where to detect. I saw him in action a few times, I used to live in Hampton.
 
SideWinder said:
Anyone do a bit of metal detecting on the beach? Any stories to share? Are you allowed to keep what you find if its on a public beach?
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In effect, only if it's worthless both financially and historically. The key thing is how the authorities define "treasure", which was recently massively extended from the old rules known as "treasure trove". Although finds in England still (strictly speaking) have to be reported to the coroner as has been the case since late 1194. Not joking. Although in practice you'd be fine reporting it to the portable antiquities scheme, which is set up for that purpose.

The reason why the coroner is the person you're officially required to report it to is that the modern office of coroner was set up in large part to divert more money to the crown because Richard I Lionheart was hell bent on bleeding England dry. So the coroner's remit included found treasure, shipwrecks and stuff like that and strictly speaking that hasn't changed since 1194. Anything that would put more money in the king's pocket. Many things have changed since then, but the fundamental rule remains the same - it all belongs to the crown.

As far as I know, the modern custom is for the crown to give a payment for the find based on its value. Who gets it can be complicated, but I think on a public beach the payment would go to the finder unless the legitimate owner of the item can be found.

Caveat - I'm not a lawyer and my interest is from the other end of time. I have an amateur interest in high medieval English history.
 
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