UK VACA

[McCDig]

On our vacation, I did 4 hunts in the UK. Hunt 1 was on a farm in Brampton, UK. High hopes for this one but it was slim pickins for the approximate 100 detectorists attending this charity rally. 1200 pounds were raised for a local school. Best finds for me: 3 buttons and a round ball. The two-hole button was made in Ulverston in Lancashire, about 80 miles south of where I dug it; likely made for clothing tailored by Thomas Mashiter around 1870.

Next 3 hunts (on consecutive evenings) were at a townfield in the city where we stayed. Since there was daylight until 10PM, these hunts were done from 8:30 to 10 PM. Best of the first night: 1806/1807 George III halfpenny, George V silver sixpence 1927, 1966 ship's halfpenny, and a 1967 Elizabeth II penny.


Best of 2nd night: 1799 George III halfpenny, and a 1938 George V penny.


Best of 3rd night: round ball, flat button with cloth and thread attached, and a Road Operators' Safety Council medal (ca. 1965), issued to bus and coach drivers enrolled in the council. I only covered a small section of this townfield.


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[McCDig]

Thanks Dave! Since the rally was somewhat of a bust, it was great to detect in-town. Don’t know if that was legal but no one called me in to the authorities and it is a mowed field I was detecting, not a manicured park where I could understand folks getting disturbed about anything that looks like digging.

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

Thanks Dave! Since the rally was somewhat of a bust, it was great to detect in-town. Don’t know if that was legal but no one called me in to the authorities and it is a mowed field I was detecting, not a manicured park where I could understand folks getting disturbed about anything that looks like digging.

I hear you buddy.
I'd rather beg for forgiveness, than ask for permission when I detect 'Crown Land' here in Canada.
Dave

 

[CRUSADER]

Thanks Crusader! The rally was held by the Lune Valley Metal Detecting group. About half of the detectorists that came, left after the 1:00 PM and these guys looked experienced; it seemed they were able to sniff out a "rubbish" hunt. I was the last man off the fields at 5:00 PM and the organizer, John Ferguson, was apologetic for the results. I thanked him for the effort; it really was well organized and worth the 10 pound entry fee.

Had I more time to detect the townfield I do believe I could have pulled some other Georgian coins.

You can't go wrong for £10 & at least the permission is already gained. I only go for the social element but I've been on very similar hunts like that & people have asked for their money back.

 

[McCDig]

Yes, not sure that happened on this one as it was billed as a charity rally but I overheard someone saying to a friend "...and you paid for this?".

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Inspector!. Yes there were some older items and that button is one of them. Here is an image of the 1871 Ulverston, Lancashire census showing Thomas Mashiter as a "tailor draper". I also found another document referencing this same Thomas Mashiter as a cosigner of an affidavit for someone who was seeking a license to open an alehouse in Ulverston.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Professor! Looks like that 1799 George III half penny was it good state when it was nailed to a beam in a home or business; the obverse lettering is well-preserved for such acidic soil.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Hughett! Total hunt time for the trip was 11 hours. Great to get out.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Looks like you made some nice coin finds McCdig, but I really like that Road Safety Council badge.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Trezurehunter! When I saw it in the hole, I thought "silver". Not so, it is pewter. No visible corrosion on the front but there is on the reverse....all the better.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Don, passed on your intel. Looks like the Mackays have a long history there.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Thanks Professor! Looks like that 1799 George III half penny was it good state when it was nailed to a beam in a home or business; the obverse lettering is well-preserved for such acidic soil.

Thought you might like to see a 'One Cent' that I found on a long gone homestead site here in Ontario.
It had obviously been nailed to the entry door frame or possibly somewhere else inside the house.
Goes to show that traditions/superstitions in Britain carried forward to Canada as well.

Note the 'square nail' hole.
Dave