The British Isles conceal a treasure trove of artefacts. In the soil of our countryside and the mud of our rivers lie Roman coins, Tudor rings, Victorian bottles – hidden gems that tell of a rich history going back thousands of years.
Traditionally a male hobby, these days, more and more women are heading out to the fields and foreshores to hunt for these artefacts. They are becoming metal detectorists and mudlarks – the latter named after Victorian scavengers, often children, who searched the banks of the River Thames for anything they could sell. Here, we meet two women with a passion for unearthing objects that are an almost magical link to our ancestors.
From then on, I was hooked
Leigh Griffiths, 50, is from Norfolk.
About 16 years ago, I bought a £200 metal detector. A friend said I could search on her land, but I was pretty clueless. I was swinging the machine too fast, and I had it on the wrong settings, so it wasn’t cancelling out iron. I ended up with lots of horseshoes!
But then, I unearthed a coin, and my heart leapt. I recognised Queen Elizabeth I in her ruff collar. I have found many coins since, but that one will always be special. From then on, I was hooked.
This story is from the August 04, 2020 edition of WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
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This story is from the August 04, 2020 edition of WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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