A day on the border with Rob, Ray and Geoff - Friday 9th July 2010

[Neil]

I headed out today to a new Farm just over the border courtesy of Rob, Ray and Geoff Chef. It was an early start and I joined them bleary eyed in the fields for 8.30am.

The first find of note fell as it does of late to Roman Ray, and took the form of probably a William III sixpence - its pretty blank so its hard to tell. Which is ironic really, as both Rob and Geoff had blank expressions on their faces, as once again Ray was teaching them how to detect! Rob muttered something about "He's walking home with a shovel up his arse!" While Geoff in the meantime was busy putting pins into the eyes of his Roman Ray vodoo doll (available from all good retailers}, which he conveniently had in his pocket!

The field we were in consisted of a gradual incline dropping into a flat plateau with a small area where there were cattle feed troughs. I always seem to do well around feed areas and believe that the same areas have been used by the farmers for hundreds of years. Why move it, once you have a nice spot? They are often not too far from a gate and I find always seem to have overhanging trees - maybe for shade for the cattle while feeding and to keep the feed from going off!

Anyway I set about this area and was soon rewarded with about 4 pre-decimal coins - oldest being a George III, a broken 1600's buckle, and a more modern one. Shortly after I had a iffy tone on the headphones and thought I may as well dig it to see and up popped a decorated spindal whorle. Nice find as I don't often find them decorated.

A few feet away I then had anothe signal faint - but far nicer sounding. Woohooo! Up popped a complete decorated crotal bell. I've cleaned it back home and its still ringing like a good un! Very happy - only my third to date and my first decorated one. At home it would appear to have some initial in the centre. Needs a lot more TLC to be sure.

After showing the guys and them muttering "Rays lucky it wasn't him that found it". I carried on and produced another spindal whorle that quickly placed my previous one in the shade. Beautifully decorated with triangles and dots.

We had a spot of lunch and headed to the river where Chef had staked his claim during the "Great Welsh Border Gold Rush of 82" and proceded to watch Chef undertake the ancient art of gold panning. I was really impressed and want to give it a go someday.

After a brief detect around these barren fields we returned to the cars and enjoyed the site of Ray being chased by a herd of bulls in the distance! You were lucky you weren't mounted mate!

I headed off home after about another hour having found a further three thimbles, a lead weight, tons of buttons and a few more Vicky coppers.

A great day out with great company.

Need to get in the attic now as I have to find my tent. The next 2 days I am rowing down the River Wye on a 12 man stag weekend! Camping in a farmers field should be interesting!

Cheers
Neil

[Neil]

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[Neil]

Last few

[PHIL YNYSBOETH]

Looks like you had a good days swinging there Fella,s !

Did Geoff find any gold ??

[Gadget(Ian)]

well done neil some nice finds there.

[waltonbasinman]

Looks like you had a good days swinging there Fella,s !

Did Geoff find any gold ??

Funny I never had Chef, Ray, Rob or Neil as swingers.    You should keep that quiet guys. Well done all on a good day out. Lovely Crotal Bell Neil a great find. Spent about two hours out today and gave up after finding one modern 10p and a Viccy penny. The ground was awful. Thought you would be down Cardiff Bay Neil sampling The Local Liquid which is where I ended up and was a great day out as well.

[Roman (Ray)]

yes what a great day out neil .rob..chef..it was neils day.as he have.nt been out for a few weeks.he was back and he was ready..lol..
what a stunning crotel bell you have found yourself neil.and 2 lovely spindal werls.and some lovely tit bits to go with your great day out.im so happy it was your day fella not..robs or chefs..lol..we.ll you know im haveing some terrable stick of them lately..lol.
welldone boys..me aswell.lol. we.ve had another great days metal detecting.cant fault it guys.
cheers.
roman raymondooo

[nobby]

great story, if you keep on posting stories like this, it'll save me from going out detecting!!

[nfl]

welldone guys ,a nice productive day was had by all,well done ,,i had a bit of a roman ray day today with my mate finding  a lovely trumpet broach an me finding sweet fa

[Chef Geoff]

A great day out lads and thanks for some great company, all I found was one solitary, miserable, pathetic, unexciting Vicky penny. I've decided that I can't gold pan when out detecting as the temptation to detect is too strong.

Neil did I say well done for finding the crotal bell?...... No I didn't think I did, oh well. 

[handyman [Alan}]

excellent report and some lovely finds there. i did enjoy seeing the decorated spindle whorl.

well done the 'fantastic four'.

see you soon

[nobby]

I ve done some joking gold panning up in dan yr agof. Its good fun, they ve got a sloosh with grit and pyrite (fools gold). Do yo think you can still get gold from the rivers around wales?

[PHIL YNYSBOETH]

Hi Noddy
The waterways around Pumpsaint are very popular with gold panners
There was a major Roman gold mine in the area Dolicothi i think it was called and some of the smaller pieces of gold may have ended up being washed in the the local river that the Romans diverted to feed the gold mine.

I hear on Real radio they are selling off the Dinosaurs at Dan yr ogof
 imagine one of them as a garden ornament  lol

[Chef Geoff]

Hi Nobby, Yes you can find gold in most rivers throughout the UK, the main problem is it's concentration or lack of it to make it viable, even for hobby panning.
The majority of gold found in Britain and Ireland is alluvial rather than nuggets, though they do turn up from time to time.
In 1989 a 28g (1oz) nugget was found by a man using a metal detector at Clay Lake Northern Ireland, this was the sixth largest (recorded) the largest being from the Wicklow gold rush of 1795 which weighed 624g (22 oz).
Last summer I found 16.5g of gold in two weeks panning in Co,Donegal.
The vast majority of gold finds were made pre 20th century and for the same reason that most coin Hoards were made pre tractor. ie we have lost everyday contact with the land or Rivers. before the tractor a man always followed the plough  and so noticed any coins being turned over and likewise washing of clothes, collecting water for animals, washing and everyday use was centred around a river.
So it's still out there, the problem, as ever is finding it.

[Kev]

nice report Neil and great photos to ,you had a good day then with the three amigos  only joking Taff ,Ray, Chef. lovely crotal bell Neil and nice spindle whorl