Hidden TREASURES

All over the UK, there are treasures from the past to be unearthed – and these women are on a mission to find them

- ANDREW SHAW

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.