Finally took my first step into metal detecting today with a Minelab Go-Find 66. Was actually given the detector, so before I get any stick from the serious detectorists 😄
I’ve decided to use it at home while I practice my swing and learn the basics before eventually passing it down to my 10 year old daughter and upgrading to something newer myself.
I’m in Northfleet, very close to the Thames and not far from Springhead and the old line of Watling Street, so there’s a ridiculous amount of history around here.
My house was built around 1929, but after looking at historic maps from 1892–1914, it turns out the garden sits alongside what looks to have been an old access path running through orchard / managed grounds connected to Northfleet House, which was apparently once a large mansion with extensive grounds before the area was developed into housing.
I've randomly dug up partial clay pipes which would pre-date my house/garden whilst building my garden office but today I finally swung the detector properly over the garden (making sure the neighbours couldn't see me embarrassing myself) and one of the first decent repeatable signals turned out to be a 1941 halfpenny… in the same hole as an old nail.
I've told myself that If I find silver in the garden, that’s my excuse to commit to a brand new Minelab Vanquish 560 😄 but let's face it I’m completely hooked already and will probably lower that benchmark lol. Garden needed a refresh anyway...
Also joined the National Council for Metal Detecting this week, so now I’m eyeing up every field and old map in Kent and trying to sweet talk every farmer/stable owner in the vicinity.