Urien of Rheged
Full Member
I'd been eying up some old pasture farm land here in rural Lancashire, England for a while noticing plenty of anomalies in the fields, linear earthworks etc and finally contacting the landowner persuaded him to allow me to hunt it. It's in an area with historical form not quarter a mile from a Roman road and possibly the site of an 8th century battle.
The elderly farmer says a few have tried over the years but none have ever stayed long or returned. Which didn't bode too well really.
Always hopeful though I started hunting from down near a brook rayher than from the farmstead. Not much doing down by the water which i suspect has regularly flooded I moved up the banking and onto the fields. These are old pasture fields and the ridge and furrow from past possibly medieval cultivation are still faintly visible. Now this area had obviously seen activity over the centuries as straight away I started getting targets. Georgian era coins and tokens, buckles and so many buttons (I hate them but they're a good sign of activity nonetheless) I then found a fantastic lead decorated spindle whorl which are notoriously difficult to date but are generally believed to be late medieval Tudor period.
Following the hedge and towards the gate I found my first bit of silver, a lovely little cross broke from a necklace. It's not stamped but obviously sterling. I couldn't say what age so if anyone has any ideas please do have a go. I'm happy I found that one as it was a very dodgy signal on the equinox the kind I could have easily walked away from believing it foil.
Moving back into the field up came another silver, a George III six pence. More buttons, Victorian copper coins and then as a solid 11-12 (numbers i like to see) at about 4 inches deep and with a certain tone onky experience I guess can appreciate, a Henry III penny class 5 I think but a bit worse for wear dating somewhere between the 1250's - 1272.
A great end to a great afternoon hunt. Cannot wait for a Sunday morning return.
Looks like a very promising permission.
The elderly farmer says a few have tried over the years but none have ever stayed long or returned. Which didn't bode too well really.
Always hopeful though I started hunting from down near a brook rayher than from the farmstead. Not much doing down by the water which i suspect has regularly flooded I moved up the banking and onto the fields. These are old pasture fields and the ridge and furrow from past possibly medieval cultivation are still faintly visible. Now this area had obviously seen activity over the centuries as straight away I started getting targets. Georgian era coins and tokens, buckles and so many buttons (I hate them but they're a good sign of activity nonetheless) I then found a fantastic lead decorated spindle whorl which are notoriously difficult to date but are generally believed to be late medieval Tudor period.
Following the hedge and towards the gate I found my first bit of silver, a lovely little cross broke from a necklace. It's not stamped but obviously sterling. I couldn't say what age so if anyone has any ideas please do have a go. I'm happy I found that one as it was a very dodgy signal on the equinox the kind I could have easily walked away from believing it foil.
Moving back into the field up came another silver, a George III six pence. More buttons, Victorian copper coins and then as a solid 11-12 (numbers i like to see) at about 4 inches deep and with a certain tone onky experience I guess can appreciate, a Henry III penny class 5 I think but a bit worse for wear dating somewhere between the 1250's - 1272.
A great end to a great afternoon hunt. Cannot wait for a Sunday morning return.
Looks like a very promising permission.
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