Horseshoes – An Informational Guide
Latest Find: Vicky Bun Head
Its not every day or even every month you get a silver coin. This is a lovely example of a young Victoria – colloquially know as a Vicky Bun Head. In 1843 when this coin was struck, she had only been on the throne for 6 years and married for 3.
Trash & Treasure
Surveying with a metal detector is about perseverance, optimism and a willingness to clean up other peoples rubbish!
These are Linda’s finds from a public site (where we have an agreement with the local council) and you can see there was a lot of trash just underneath the surface.
The Local Wildlife
It pays to be aware of your surroundings when out in the field. Linda found this little toad under a tree amongst the leaf litter. Very nearly covered in earth but spotted just in time he amazingly climbed into her hand so he could be moved to safety.
Latest Find: Crotal Bell
Crotal bells an important part of early farming when, historically, often animals were left to graze on common or open land. They were also used on horse drawn carriages so they could heard by others traveling along lanes and roads. Here are two examples Yvonne found in one day. One has been damaged (probably by a plow or mower) but the other is complete and still rings nicely.
Smokin’
Clay Pipes are quite common finds on the banks of the Thames but the trick is to find a complete one. This example below is the most complete and whole one we have managed to find to date.
The smaller the bowl, the older the pipe as when tobacco was first introduced it was a luxury not a commodity.
Latest Find: Victorian Padlock
Found in Berkshire were these odd shaped pieces of joined metal with VR inscribed under a crown on the tear shaped tang … on investigation Linda found it was from a heart shaped Victorian postal or excise lock and the tang once swivelled to protect the keyhole.
