CHESTER METAL DETECTING GROUP

FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS, IT MIGHT MAKE YOU RICH

BY PHILLIP E JONES

GIVEN CHESTER'S EXTENSIVE 2000 YEAR HISTORY, IT IS PERHAPS LITTLE WONDER THAT IT HAS BECOME AND STILL REMAINS A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION IN NORTHWEST ENGLAND AND ONE THAT IS MONITORED AND SCRUTINIZED TO ENSURE ITS MANY REMAINING ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURES REMAIN INTACT OR PROTECTED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

HOWEVER, CHESTER'S TURBULENT HISTORY WENT WELL BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE PRECINCTS OF THE CITY'S DEFENSIVE WALLS AND EXTENDED WELL INTO THE FLAT GREEN LANDS OF THE CHESHIRE COUNTRYSIDE. TODAY, THERE ARE POSSIBLY HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF STILL UNDISCOVERED HISTORICAL ARTEFACTS LYING IN THE DAMP CLAY SOIL OF THE MANY FARM FIELDS WHICH BORDER THE FORMER ROMAN FORTRESS.

WHERE LIVESTOCK GRAZE, THE ONLY IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THESE LOST TREASURES IS THE STEADY AND RELENTLESS CORROSION WHICH THE SOIL INFLICTS ON THESE SOMETIMES DELICATELY MADE ITEMS. BUT WHERE THE SOIL IS EXTENSIVELY PLOUGHED AND TILLED, THE LEVEL OF DAMAGE TO THESE ARTEFACTS CAN BE QUITE HORRENDOUS AND CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THE ITEMS TOTAL FRAGMENTATION AND DESTRUCTION. TREASURES THAT SHOULD BE LOCATED, RETRIEVED AND CONSERVED ARE ALL TOO OFTEN BEING LOST FOREVER, EITHER THROUGH IGNORANCE, SELFISHNESS OR JUST A GENERAL MISUNDERSTANDING ON THE PART OF MANY LANDOWNERS AND/OR FARMERS.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL PERCEPTION THAT MOST METAL DETECTORISTS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN SELF INTERESTED "TREASURE HUNTERS" WHO WANDER UNINVITED ONTO FARMLAND OR PRIVATE ESTATES, DIG HUGE HOLES WHICH CAN DAMAGE CROPS OR LIVESTOCK AND THEN QUICKLY DISAPPEAR WITH THEIR ILL-GOTTEN GAINS, IN ORDER TO SELL THEM TO A LOCAL DEALER OR FLOG THEM ON EBAY, LEAVING THE FARMER OR LANDOWNER WITH NOTHING MORE THAN AN IRRITATED LOOK ON HIS FACE AND A FIELD WHICH IS REMINISCENT OF THE SOMME BATTLEFIELD.

FOR MOST GENUINE DETECTORISTS THIS STEREOTYPICAL VIEW OF THEIR HOBBY IS NOT ONLY MISGUIDED BUT IS BOTH UNHELPFUL AND UNTRUE. MOST METAL DETECTORISTS TEND TO BE MATURE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THEIR OWN PARTICULAR TOWN OR CITY AND HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF POUNDS ON THEIR DETECTING EQUIPMENT. FOR MOST, THERE IS LITTLE CHANCE OF GAINING ANY SORT OF FINANCIAL REWARD FOR THE NUMEROUS HOURS OF BACK BREAKING FIELD WALKING THAT THEY UNDERTAKE, SIMPLY TO RECOVER AN ODD COIN, MILITARY MEDAL OR EVEN A PIECE OF LEAD SHOT THAT JUST MIGHT OFFER THEM A BRIEF INSIGHT INTO THE HISTORY OF THE SITE IN TIMES GONE PAST.

MOST FARMERS OR LANDOWNERS WHO HAVE WELCOMED GENUINE METAL DETECTING GROUPS ONTO THEIR LANDS HAVE FOUND THAT THE BENEFITS FAR OUTWEIGH ANY MINOR DISADVANTAGES. NOT ONLY HAVE THEY LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE POSSIBLE HISTORY AND USE OF THEIR LAND OR PROPERTY, BUT OFTEN BEEN LEFT WITH EXAMPLES OF COINAGE AND OR EVERYDAY OBJECTS WHICH WERE OWNED OR USED BY PEOPLE WHO LIVED DECADES OR CENTURIES BEFORE. OCCASIONALLY, FARMERS HAVE THE ADDED EXCITEMENT OF A LARGE FINANCIAL WINDFALL, BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE DISCOVERY OF SOME UNKNOWN TREASURE THAT BRINGS THEM HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FREE MONEY, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY INVITED A GROUP TO DETECT THEIR SEEMINGLY UNINTERESTING FIELDS. A DAIRY FARMER IN HUXLEY NEVER REGRETTED HIS DECISION TO ALLOW DETECTOR'S ON HIS LAND, FOLLOWING THE SURPRISE DISCOVERY OF A VIKING SILVER HOARD IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF HIS FIELDS. TALK ABOUT MONEY FOR NOTHING     

THE CHESTER DETECTING GROUP COMPRISES A SMALL NUMBER OF MATURE AND HIGHLY EXPERIENCED LOCALLY BASED METAL DETECTING ENTHUSIASTS WHO ARE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO UNCOVERING AND PRESERVING CHESHIRE'S HIDDEN OR LOST ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURES. WHEN INVITED TO DETECT ON A SITE, THE GROUP UNDERTAKE TO DISCLOSE ALL FINDS TO THE LANDOWNER OR THEIR NOMINATED AGENT AND WHERE NECESSARY TO REPORT ANY SPECIAL INTEREST ITEMS TO THE LOCAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT FOR IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING.

IN THE EVENT THAT ANY SUCH ITEMS ARE THOUGHT TO BE TREASURE TROVE, THEY WILL BE REPORTED TO THE LOCAL CORONERS OFFICE FOR A LEGAL DETERMINATION AS TO THEIR ACTUAL OWNERSHIP AND/OR VALUATION. LANDOWNERS ARE NORMALLY ENTITLED TO 50% OF THE STERLING VALUE OF ANY ITEM FOUND ON THEIR PROPERTY, EITHER SET BY THE CORONER OR BY A NOMINATED AND INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY.

ALL MEMBERS OF THE GROUP ARE AFFILIATED TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF METAL DETECTING (NW REGION) VIA LOCAL METAL DETECTING CLUBS AND ARE FULLY COVERED BY A PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE POLICY OF £5M, AS AGREED WITH THE NATIONAL FARMERS UNION. ADDITIONALLY, ALL MEMBERS ARE COMMITTED TO OBSERVING THE COUNTRY CODE AND THE AIMS OF THE KEEP BRITAIN TIDY CAMPAIGN. THEY UNDERTAKE TO LEAVE THE LAND OR PROPERTY AS THEY FOUND IT AND TO REMOVE ANY HARMFUL ITEMS FROM THE LAND FOR SAFE DISPOSAL. ALL HOLES ARE CAREFULLY REFILLED, GATES ARE CORRECTLY CLOSED TO ENSURE CROP AND LIVESTOCK SECURITY AND ANY RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE LANDOWNER OR AGENTS ARE STRICTLY ADHERED TO. THE GROUPS CODE OF PRACTICE IS LISTED BELOW:

• We only detect on land with the express permission of the landowner
• We agree to follow any and all restrictions applied by the landowner
• We agree to refill any holes and leave the land as we originally found it
• All "special interest" finds will be reported to the Local Finds Officer
• Details of sites and/or finds are deemed to be confidential
• All finds will be reported to the landowner and/or their agents
• Where possible we will try to avoid disturbing livestock and/or crops
• Any reportedly lost items will be returned if and when found by the group

IF YOU REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE CHESTER GROUP, OR HAVE A PIECE OF LAND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DETECTED FOR UNDISCOVERED ITEMS, PLEASE USE THE WEBSITE EMAIL ADDRESS OR CONTACT PHIL ON THE NUMBERS SHOWN.

DOES YOUR LAND OR PROPERTY CONTAIN HIDDEN, LOST OR UNDISCOVERED TREASURES? CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Produced and maintained by Phillip E Jones @ Mobile 07756 693258 Text: 07914 189032

Mail Contact: 3 Riverside Park, Sealand, Deeside, Flintshire, CH5 2JR