Detectingwales.com Rally 70 - A Wizard time in Hawksbridge.

[Neil]

A Wizard time in Hawksbridge.

Morning was still not quite broken when TaffLaff, Nobby and JCB Jones arrived at my abode ready and set for a day at DW Rally Number 70.

The boot was loaded, and we were soon on our way up the A48 regaling newbie Justin with DW history, detecting folklore and tales of finds. Not far into our journey I had to make an emergency swerve as one of the lanes on the dual carriageway had a builders ladder lying in the middle of it. Rob promptly got on the phone to the local constabulary to try and avert an accident that was just waiting to happen – hopefully they got to it in time.

We arrived at the farm to be greeted by a really friendly farmer, and shortly after the loyal DW hoards started to appear en-mass. A great turn our today chaps with loads of regular, old and new faces joining us. As always I hope you found it a friendly and enjoyable experience.

There has been talk of late of all the wet weather we have experienced, but to be quite frank apart from a bit of sticky mud here and there the pastures were perfect to detect upon. Today we had close to 100 acres of sheep chewed pasture to lose ourselves on, and following an excellent overview by Chef we were into the fields.

First find of note came in the shape of a Vicky Jubilee Shilling, which was quickly followed by a silver hallmarked brooch for Steve, and a milled sixpence for Dawson – Rob will add photos of these.

It was a strange detecting experience today as I was getting depth from “old Faithful” unlike I have had recently. I pulled one Vicky half penny out easily at a good 10 inches, and went even deeper later for a musket ball. It wasn’t just me though as everyone seemed to be commenting that they were getting good depth today. Must be down to the composition of the soil and the recent rain.

Colin and Byron were next to appear on my horizon with a Georgian shoe buckle each – both different designs but a pair of beauts. Byron also had a hallmarked silver spoon in his hand that I think looking at the photos and the style of what looks to be a front engraving maybe older than we thought. Good to catch up with you Byron.

Big shout out to Handyman who detected with newcomer JCB Jones today and helped show his the ropes. Well done Alan – I know it was appreciated. Thanks Justin as well for the coat mate – very, very kind of you and much appreciated. I owe you one.

Back to detecting and a rare event happened, in that Taff Laff found silver! Not just silver though a 1816 Bullhead Sixpence and later on a Lizzy Hammered Sixpence. Welcome and much deserved finds and he was as pleased as Punch driving home (9if only he was as handsome as Punch – courtesy Black Adder).

Young Nobby was also in the silver with a mystery strip and a hallmarked end of a cheroot (smoking holder) – both of which he gave to the farmer. I hasten to add this wasn’t the farmer who owned this farm, but the farmer from rally 69 who we had invited to join us for a days detecting. A really nice guy and hopefully we’ll be paying him another visit in the summer.

Walking into field four of I think twelve, I bumped into a camouflaged gang of GI Jan, Charles and Mr Mayo – all of which were sporting a range of silver finds and artefacts. Jan had found herself a William III shilling with some detail on the profile and another example that had been counter stamped in numerous places with letters.  Charles had some curious artefacts including a pewter or lead watch face, 1878 three pence, a leaf shaped item and one side of what I think looking at the reverse is a belt buckle clasp (it looked similar to how nurse buckles join). Mr Mayo was also sporting I think a sixpence, and a pocket full of finds. Everyone I bumped into including myself had bulging pockets and I think we can safely assume no heavy amount of detecting had ever happened on this farm.

There were rumours doing the rounds of a hammered Lizzy Shilling and a Roman fibula surfacing in the furthest field. I never made it that far over, but I know that Da Monkey and Dave Ha were busying themselves finding Roman over there so anything is possible.  Photos please lads.

Back near the car park Steven King found a hallmarked silver fob that looks a beauty, I turned up only my third ever pipe tamper, and Proconsol had a very unusual medallion depicting three faces. I look forward to what your research finds out on that Geoff – lovely find.

The heavens emptied at 3pm for a good 30 minutes and cold and soaking I headed to the car with Nobby. At the car loads of finds started to materialise including a hammered Tudor silver coin for Deadlock . The coin of the day though was in Radnor Bandits hand and is only his second Plantagenet coin he has found. It was a stunner of a short cross – I can’t ID these to save my life its all about the pellets and the sceptres if I remember correctly – Doc – Help?

My camera packed it shortly after that as we were hit by a monsoon and wind of biblical proportions that blew for a good ten minute and then like that . . . it was gone. You could say it was Gone with the Wind.

Cold and wet I sunk into the warmth of the heated seat to hear that Cardiff were 1-0 up in the cup, when a bedraggled Taff arrived and handed me his camera showing a photo of one of the most beautifully inscribed Gold Tudor (I think)posy rings I have ever seen. What? When? Who? Where? The answer was Jeff the Wizards wife, in a field, on her first ever detecting trip! Congratulations. For many that would be the find of a lifetime – I just wish I had seen it in the flesh. A really beautiful find and the legend is quite a famous one "Gods Providence is our Inheritance"  - Nobby found it on Google on the way home. Jeff will know what you need to do from here.

That was it. We headed home, tired but happy, got lost at some point and God knows how but we were soon on the way to Bristol!

Thanks as always to all of you for making it an excellent day.  

Same again next week weather permitting.

Keep the Faith

Neil

[Neil]

More finds

[Neil]

More finds again

[Dale]

A shot at the shortcross.........  I think its a John  (Fulke of london)

[DEADLOCK]

Thank you DW fantastic day great company nice to meet dk croony, and monkeybike hope to see you at the next rally will post pics later.

[Chef Geoff]

A great write up, great turnout and a great rally well done all, one intriguing find that is still a mystery fell to Dylan in the shape of and obvious coin which is encrusted in a layer of concretian type clay, one edge though gives a big hint that nestling inside is a silver coin (backed up by the reading on the machine) so hopefully he will give it time to soak as there could be something very special inside

[Da Monkey]

Thanks for another excellent rally guys, really enjoyed the day and great company, lots of interesting folk to meet   When are we going back then ?  There's more there to be found  

Here are a few pics Neil, my Roman is my first Radiate, Cheffy and JonTalbot confrmed at the time, I must admit that it looks better in real life than the photo lol.

Spineydave will no doubt post his hammy piccy up sometime soon as well.

I met Monkeybike who had a nicer roman than mine off the same field and Colin who had a very nice Hammy, pics attached...

Thanks guys, a really great day out despite the downpour and gale right at the end...

See you all next week I hope

[nobby]

Or as he put "im gonna hit wiv an ammer"

[Da Monkey]

Wow, stunning posy ring 

Well found Mrs. Wizard.

Well Jeff, you may as well take the machine off her and retire her now, she's not going to beat that one in a while.... find of a lifetime

[Da Monkey]

P1020023.JPG  and P1020024.JPG look like the centre stone part of a watch fob seal, the type that flips over.  I found one very similar in Oxfordshire a while back also uncut, just as this one looks

[gijan]

fab dig guys...great finds ...lots of chats...very pleased with my GARRETT finds...hi 2 all newbies...really enjoyed 2 day..cu again soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon.....jxc...x

[The Doc]

Great report Neil and some nice finds 

I managed to avoid finding anything decent  but enjoyed the day apart from getting soaked by that shower.

Lovely posy ring 

Dale - you're nearly there with the short cross.

I agree it's John (Class 5b1) and I agree the moneyer is Fulke, but the mint looks like it ends with an 'M', so I think it's Bury St Edmunds. Would have read something like FVLKE ON S. EDM.

[legio11augustus]

good write up , enjoyed the day ..surprised by the finds as i didnt get many signals all day...some great finds well done all

[Tafflaff (Rob)]

good write up , enjoyed the day ..surprised by the finds as i didnt get many signals all day...some great finds well done all

I had 63 diggable signals

[dkcrooby]

As usual, had a great day out so thank you for organising.  As usual, didn't find much but met some lovely people and look forward to the next one.

Nice to meet you too Deadlock and well done on the hammered.  :-)

Thanks to the guys too who helped me locate one of tricky finds.  It ended up being another button.