Metal Detecting History Podcast

This week Katie sits down with Sam Willoughby, known on Instagram as the_peaky_larker, a Kent-based mudlarker, metal detectorist and self-described archaeo-detectorist who bridges both worlds with the kind of knowledge and ethics that makes you want to get outside immediately.Sam shares how furlough in 2020 sent him to the banks of the Medway and eventually onto the Thames foreshore itself, where he waited 18 months for his Port of London Authority permit. He talks about upgrading from a Garrett ACE 150 to the Minelab Xterra Pro, why a 6-inch coil is non-negotiable on the foreshore, and how he became the only detectorist on an active Roman site in an elderly couple's back garden that has now yielded around 30 Roman coins.There are finds too. A late Tudor buckle dug from a new permission while still recovering from a cold. A minuscule Hudson's Bay Company trade bead, red and black, manufactured in Britain and traded with indigenous peoples in North America for fur pelts. And one weird discovery that turned out to be a Victorian bedpan with a hospital crest, which Sam very wisely gave to a friend.The conversation also covers the Dove's typeface mystery, the ethics of mudlarking on the foreshore, Thames Explorer Trust exhibitions, and a farmer near Richborough Roman Fort who took matters into his own hands with a bucket of copper nails.Find Sam on Instagram at @peakylarkerWatch the full interview version of this episode from 6:30pm on YouTube at youtube.com/@detectinghistorychannel | Find Detecting History on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube at @detectinghistorychannel | Use code DHPodcast at regton.com for 10% off some items.

Emma Youell (https://www.instagram.com/emloveoldstuff/) is back, and she has had quite a couple of years.Since her last appearance on the podcast, Emma has ticked off not one but two items from her detecting bucket list finding two Iron Age quarter staters and a potent within just a couple of months. Three Celtic coins. Extraordinary.But that's just the start. Emma has been quietly doing some of the most important work in the hobby right now, creating video content for the National Council for Metal Detecting, including a film about Scottish treasure law and a deep dive into the brand new NCMD app. She shares the incredible story of how one detectorist used that app to track his Roman finds across a map... and accidentally discovered an entire hidden Roman road.Emma also opens up about her work as a PAS self-recorder, her ongoing involvement with Time Team (including an upcoming dig at a Roman site in Brancaster, Norfolk), and how she found out her animations were going to appear on a Channel 4 show via a phone call received while standing in a Lincolnshire field mid-dig.Plus her Kent Women in Business award win, her obsession with the musical Epic, and a round of Would You Rather that gets surprisingly philosophical.Watch the full interview version of this episode from 6:30pm on YouTube at youtube.com/@detectinghistorychannel. Find Detecting History on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@DetectingHistoryChannel | Use code DHPodcast at https://regton.com/ for 10% off some items.

This week Katie is joined by Wayne May, the Canadian detectorist behind the hugely popular YouTube channel Treasure Earth, which has amassed over 44,000 subscribers since Wayne relaunched it in 2022. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Wayne has deep roots in Hampshire and Wiltshire, and that connection to English soil has shaped him into one of the most well-travelled detectorists in the community.In this episode Wayne shares his origin story, from a Radio Shack detector turning up in a neighbour's yard in 1979, to a gold ring find in the 90s that sealed his fate, to rediscovering the hobby with an XP Deus 1 in British Columbia around 2010 and never looking back.Wayne talks through what it feels like as a Canadian to pull an Edward I hammered coin from a Hampshire field, why the Roman occupation of Britain fascinates him above all other eras, and how his second cousin Margaret Hawks was part of the original Time Team. He also opens up about detecting logistics across borders, travelling with the Deus 2 through Philippine airport security, building 3D printed cases for his kit, and the very different challenges of detecting in bear country.They also cover the realities of a six month detecting season in Calgary, the freedom Canadians enjoy on public land compared to the UK permissions system, the playground cleanup initiative that spread to 3,000 sites across Canada, and Wayne's use of AI to imagine the stories behind the finds he digs up.Plus, Wayne reveals his plans to return to England in August, a Portugal trip in the pipeline, and the channels he rates most in the detecting community right now.A genuinely warm conversation between two detectorists who might just end up in the same Hampshire field before the year is out.Find Wayne at https://www.youtube.com/@treasurearth and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/treasurearth.earth/ and TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@treasure.earthWatch the full interview version of this episode from 6:30pm on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@detectinghistorychannelFind Detecting History on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube at @detectinghistorychannelUse code DHPodcast at regton.com for 10% off your metal detecting order.

This week on the UK's metal detecting and mudlarking podcast, Darren Booth of History Unearthed is back. We dig into his 337-coin Roman hoard now heading for a major museum display, his Henry VIII sovereign penny found in Cumbria, and the Viking gold coin recently unearthed in Norfolk with links to the Great Heathen Army. We also cover the £3.5 million Henry VIII heart pendant found in Warwickshire, and Darren's laser-engraved finds boards that have nearly paid for themselves in six weeks.Darren's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/history__unearthed/The Etching Booth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_etching_booth/Darren's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HistoryUnearthedmd10% 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

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

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/@DetectingHistoryChannel

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/@DetectingHistoryChannel

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/@DetectingHistoryChannel

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/@DetectingHistoryChannel