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Mudlarking, Metal Detecting and Haunted Finds | Adventures in Finding Stuff with Raymond Berry
56:19|This week on the Detecting History Podcast, host Katie MacDoyle is joined by Raymond Berry from the YouTube channel Adventures in Finding Stuff.Raymond is a passionate finder of lost history whose hobbies stretch far beyond metal detecting. From mudlarking on the River Thames to magnet fishing, Victorian bottle digging and uncovering strange artefacts in the woods, Raymond and his friends are constantly exploring new ways to rediscover the past.In this fascinating conversation, Raymond shares how growing up in East London first sparked his love of treasure hunting, discovering coins along the Thames and exploring wartime bomb sites as a child. That early curiosity eventually grew into a lifelong passion for finding objects and uncovering the stories behind them.The episode explores the different ways people search for history today, from mudlarking and metal detecting to bottle digging and magnet fishing. Raymond also discusses how his YouTube channel began, why he prefers variety over chasing the algorithm, and why the real reward of these hobbies is the peace, freedom and sense of adventure they bring.Along the way, Raymond shares some remarkable finds and stories, including:• The discovery of a mysterious “voodoo doll” in woodland once used by a 1970s witch coven• Mudlarking finds from the River Thames including historic clay pipes• A Napoleonic era artefact linked to the King’s German Legion• A First World War bayonet recovered from former hospital land• Strange experiences from paranormal investigations in historic buildingsRaymond also gives practical advice for anyone looking to start metal detecting or finding their own local history, including tips on gaining land permission, researching locations, and why many great discoveries happen far away from farmland.Whether you are a detectorist, mudlark, history enthusiast or simply someone who enjoys stories of lost objects and the past they reveal, this episode is packed with insight, humour and fascinating discoveries.Find Raymonds YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinfindingstuff10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorychannel/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryChannel/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorychannelYoutube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryChannel
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Bearded Bleepers’ Murray Price: Metal Detecting Finds, Permissions, and the Shere Museum Display
44:44|In this episode of Detecting History, I’m joined by Murray Price, one of the five detectorists behind the Bearded Bleepers, detecting across the Surrey Hills.We talk about Murray’s metal detecting journey, his detector upgrades from the Garrett Ace 150 to the Vanquish 540 and now the Equinox 900, plus the kit he relies on in the field (and why comfort and weight matter when you’re swinging all day).Then we get into the big story: the Bearded Bleepers have created a display with the Sheer Museum, showcasing finds and stories from the local landscape, with an evolving exhibition that opens when the museum reopens on 14 February 2026We also cover:How Murray approaches getting permissions (flyers on gates, parish magazines, community outreach, and realistic success rates)The “why” of detecting: mental health, friendship, fitness, and learning history through objectsMurray’s favourite finds, including a Women’s Land Army badge, a Dutch WWII coin with RAF context near Dunsfold, and a confirmed early medieval dagger pommelTips for beginners: why slowing down and working methodically can beat “head for the hills”Bucket list targets (Saxon or Viking buckles), plus a bit of Richard III history chatFind the Bearded Bleepers online:Website: https://beardedbleepers.co.uk/Instagram/Facebook: @beardedbleepersShout-outs in this episode: Ray & Steve – Adventures In Finding Stuff, and the rest of the Bearded Bleepers crew: Jan, Ashley, Michael H, and Michael, plus Marsha at Sheer Museum.If you enjoy the episode, please follow the show, leave a rating, and come say hello on socials. And remember: just keep digging. 10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorychannel/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryChannel/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorychannelYoutube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryChannelThis Week in British History: Edward VI, Elizabeth I and Life in Late Winter England
08:49|This midweek episode focuses on events in British history that fall between the 20th and 25th of February.We begin with the coronation of Edward VI in 1547, a nine-year-old king whose Protestant regents pushed England through its most radical religious transformation. Churches changed, rituals disappeared and devotional objects were removed, hidden or destroyed.We then move to 1570, when Elizabeth I was formally excommunicated by Pope Pius V. The decision intensified religious division, strengthened state surveillance and forced Catholic worship underground.Finally, we step into the lived reality of late winter Britain. February marked the hungry gap, when food ran low, labourers moved for work, militias prepared for spring campaigns and markets shaped daily survival. These movements explain why coins, clothing fasteners, trade items and devotional artefacts are still found in the soil today.This is the story of Tudor power, religious change and the everyday lives beneath it.10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorychannel/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryChannel/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorychannelYoutube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryChannelThe Scottish Detectorist: Finds, Laws, YouTube & a Lifetime of Discoveries
01:08:33|In this episode of the Detecting History Podcast, I’m joined by John MacEachen, better known as the Scottish Detectorist. With tens of thousands of YouTube subscribers and millions of views, John has become one of the most recognisable and respected voices in the detecting community.We explore how he first got into metal detecting, the machines he’s used across 26 years in the hobby, and how technology has transformed the way we search and record history. John shares insights into filming detecting content for YouTube, improving audio and visual quality, and the realities behind running a successful detecting channel.We also dive into some of his most memorable finds, from Bronze Age axe heads and Roman material to Scottish coinage and deeply personal artefacts that connect directly to people of the past. The conversation highlights why detecting is about far more than coins, it’s about stories, context and human connection.A key part of the discussion focuses on the differences between detecting in Scotland and England, including Treasure Trove, reporting responsibilities, and why responsible detecting matters more than ever. John also offers practical advice for beginners on choosing the right machine, gaining permissions, perseverance in the field, and starting a detecting YouTube channel.Whether you’re new to the hobby or have years behind the coil, this episode is a brilliant look at the mindset, discipline and passion behind successful metal detecting and content creation.The Scottish Detectorist YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@thescottishdetectorist10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorypodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryChannel/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorychannelYoutube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryChannelValentine’s Day in British History: Love, Royal Tradition and the Death of Captain Cook
09:48|This week’s midweek episode explores the deeper history of Valentine’s Day in Britain, long before cards, chocolates and commercial traditions took hold.We start with the origins of Saint Valentine, the Christian martyr whose execution on 14 February shaped the feast day, and trace how the meaning evolved through the Middle Ages. By the time of Chaucer and the Tudor court, Valentine’s Day had become tied to courtship, symbolism, alliances and royal culture, with jewellery, posy rings and personal tokens exchanged as part of carefully staged rituals of affection and status.These are exactly the kinds of personal objects that sometimes survive in the soil and end up rediscovered centuries later by metal detectorists.The episode then turns to the other side of 14 February in British history, the death of Captain James Cook in 1779. From his beginnings on Whitby coal ships to his voyages with HMS Resolution and his role in charting the Pacific, Cook’s life represents both scientific exploration and the expansion of empire.His death in Hawaii highlights the tensions, misunderstandings and cultural collisions that often accompanied exploration, and the complex legacy he left behind.Together, these two stories show how a single date can hold multiple meanings in British history: love and power, exploration and conflict, personal objects and global movement — all leaving traces that still shape what ends up in the ground today.Happy Valentines! 10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorypodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryChannel/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorychannelYoutube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryChannelThe Dapper Detectorist: medieval gold, Roman finds and the reality of permissions
55:27|In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Steve Price, known on Instagram as the Dapper Detectorist, for a brilliant chat about finds, fieldcraft and why metal detecting is as much about mindset as it is about machines.Steve shares the story of his stunning medieval gold finger ring discovery, the long treasure process that followed, and what it felt like to finally have it returned. We also talk Roman artefacts, Celtic coins, gold finds, and the personal items that really bring the past to life.We get into detectors too: Minelab vs XP, learning tones, working different land types, and why understanding your machine matters more than chasing numbers on the screen.There’s honest discussion around permissions, group digs vs solo detecting, beginner mistakes, and the mental benefits of getting out into the fields and switching off from everyday life.If you’re new to detecting, thinking about starting, or just love hearing real stories from the ground, this one’s for you.Stay lucky, and just keep digging.10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFind Steve on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_dapper_detectorist/Watch the interviews here: Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryChannelFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorypodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryChannelTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorychannelMidweek Mini Episode - Sweyn Forkbeard and Mary, Queen of Scots | Power, Death and the English Crown
08:13|In this midweek episode, we step back into two pivotal February moments that reshaped power in England.First, we return to early February 1014 and the sudden death of Viking king Sweyn Forkbeard, a moment that briefly restored Anglo-Saxon rule and exposed how fragile kingship was in early medieval England.Then we move forward to 8 February 1587 and the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots — one of the most dramatic and politically charged events in royal history, where Elizabeth I authorised the death of another monarch and sent shockwaves across Britain and Europe.From Viking conquest and shifting loyalties to Tudor intrigue, religion and royal power, this episode explores how two very different moments reveal the same truth: the English crown has never been secure for long.We also connect both periods to the material culture left behind — Anglo-Scandinavian coins and stycas, and Tudor artefacts tied to identity, propaganda and belief.Two centuries apart. One theme: power, legitimacy and survival.10% off some items at Regton Metal Detectors using promo code DHPodcastFollow the podcast on all socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detectinghistorypodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectingHistoryPodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@detectinghistorypodcastYoutube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryChannel