Detectingwales.com Rally 66 - Spiders and Halves!

[Neil]

It was about time the DW clan returned to our Rooksbridge site, which is historically the scene of the original Hammerdfest. Sunday saw us return in our masses – it wasn’t quite a fest but still a productive day.

The fields to play with consisted of pasture, stubble and rolled. Following the fantastic overview by our resident Rooksbbridge expert, Chef we were off with hope in our hearts and mud on our boots.

The first find of the day came from the booming voice of Manicdev who was sporting an early Medieval buckle – a beauty to add to his collection. He was quickly followed by a finder with an early bag seal that should be dateable. Proconsol managed a bag seal of his own which for all the world seemed to be adorned with a phallus – hints at those pesky Romans perhaps. It was beginning to appear that despite our previous visits that there were still decent finds to be made. Who says a field is ever “Done”.

The detecting grapevine brought early news that Colonel Trautman’s favourite Special Forces operative had unearthed a Lizzy Sixpence. Sure enough, a beaming, bearded, and hairy Rambo had hit paydirt again with a coin of the Virgin Queen, who lets face it if she had ever met Rambo wouldn’t have kept her nickname for long!

He added to it later in the day with the first of many cut halves that appeared on a regular basis. I think at the time we speculated that it was a voided longcross of Henry III.

In the interest of friendly competition, Dawson was giving Rambo a run for the money with two hammered coins of his own – a Tudor penny and another cut half.

Whilst standing on the edge of the pasture, I became aware of a mystical shimmering light that seemed to be covering the grass. Being a believer in omens and lucky symbols I worked my way towards it. It was no prophecy of fortune though. Instead it was the largest web of spider I have ever seen. I was covered from my shins down in spiders and silk. For the rest of the day everyone I spoke to seemed to have a small spider hanging from their nose, cap or machine. There were literally thousands of arachnids everywhere!

After lunch my spider senses started tingling again with the arrival of another two cut halves. These were quickly followed by Dale with a whopping 30gram chunk of silver necklace broken in five parts. Guess what? He also had found a cut half!

I travelled down to the rally this morning with Mike and newbie Gareth, and was delighted to see a beaming Mike come towards me at the end of the day with a penny that I immediately recognised as being Edward 1st and I dare say a class of 10cf or thereabouts. If you believe I can ID coins that easily I’ll tell you another one! The credit for the ID goes to The Doc.

The temperature plummeted at about 3.30pm and soon members started heading home, probably with more than a few extra passengers of the arachnid variety.

I saw a total of 8 hammered coins on the day, which is a fair return in my book. I dare say there were a few other finds I didn’t see, so please add them to this post. I have never seen so many cut halfs and I think we can say for certain whatever was going on in the area cost half a penny!

Until next time

Keep the faith
Neil

[Neil]

Photos

[Neil]

More photos

[Neil]

Last few

[Val Beechey]

Really entertaining and informative report, once again, Neil.  I always enjoy reading them.  
I think Sunday was national spider day,  I had the same in my bottom field. Went to move the fence posts and found hundreds of the little burgers hanging off them. Point of interest, this was unusual so late in the year.

Val

[dances with badgers]

what was the score with all those spiders? i got biten and when i had a bath i could'nt get out of the bath lol.woke up on the ceiling this morning

[Pipster]

Good report Neil , a top read  and a super haul of finds well done one and all 

[legio11augustus]

great write up as per usual/well done to all who organised and attended...

[Chef Geoff]

Great report Neil, it felt as if i was there detecting rather than all the talking i did in fact my batteries definitely won't need charging before the next time out.
This is Dale's cut half still in it's 600 year old muddy home

[CUT/HALF]

Brilliant report neil  . It was a great rally and it's good to see all the pictures. Thanks again for the warm welcome and I look forward to the next Detectingwales.com rally.
All the best
CUT/HALF

[HAMMERRHOID]

Hi Neil here is a late in the day find which I showed to Chef Geoff. It is a coin weight can you ID it thanks HAMMERRHOID

[hoarder]

this was mine and my detecting mate mickyV first time out with DW mob

the hammereds eluded us on this visit (but the spiders did not ) we were like the others covered in them

we were made very welcome by everyone and we would just like to thank robert and neil for getting us to this rally at short notice after we had joined the website

also thanks to peterH who poured oil on the wheels of admin for us lol

we are looking forward to another day out with DW detectorists

[Chef Geoff]

Here you go hammerrhoid
http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/550456

[Dale]

Cheers for the clod shot Geoff.

[H-LoneStar]

Great report Neil seems the "money spiders" didn't hold up to their name for me!  
didn't find much but looking forward to the next one

H