Land-Owners

At Surrey Metal Detecting, we provide competitive daily rates, ranging from £300 to £1000. Get in touch with us today to learn more!

As a highly respected club, we ensure that all our members are fully insured for metal detecting activities. We encourage everyone to carry their insurance policy with them while searching. We recommend the National Council for Metal Detecting (NCMD) for comprehensive coverage.

When using your metal detector, remember that you are an ambassador for our hobby. Always act responsibly to maintain its good reputation, and take the chance to share your passion with those who show interest.

Respect Property Rights
Do not trespass. Always obtain permission before entering any land.

Leave No Trace
Avoid leaving any mess or creating unsafe surfaces for others. It’s entirely possible to retrieve a coin or other small object a few inches below the surface without leaving a large hole. Use a suitable digging tool to cut a neat flap (without completely removing the earth plug), retrieve the object, and carefully replace the soil or grass. With proper care, even you should find it difficult to locate the spot again.

Handle Dangerous Finds with Care
Do not attempt to remove any dangerous objects, such as live ammunition or unexploded bombs. Instead, carefully mark the location and inform the landowner and local police.

Observe Legal Restrictions
Using a metal detector on designated sites like Scheduled Monuments, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, or Ministry of Defence property is illegal without the appropriate permissions. In areas under agri-environment agreements, metal detecting often comes with specific rules, including mandatory reporting of finds to the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Respect the Countryside Code
Leave gates and property as you found them. Avoid damaging crops, disturbing animals, or affecting nesting birds.

Contribute to Cleanliness
Dispose of any rubbish you encounter to help keep Britain tidy.

Report Finds Appropriately

Understanding the Treasure Act 1996

The Treasure Act 1996 was introduced to ensure that significant archaeological discoveries, particularly those made of precious metals, are preserved for public interest. This prevents important finds from being lost or privately sold without a recorded history.

Under the Act, ‘treasure’ is defined by specific criteria:

• Composition and Age: The item must be at least 300 years old and contain a minimum of 10% gold or silver if it is a coin or prehistoric metalwork.
• Association with Other Finds: Objects found alongside, or previously linked with, other treasures also qualify as treasure.

Recent amendments have expanded the definitions to include other significant historical and cultural finds, focusing on their heritage value over material worth.

What to Do If You Find Treasure

If you discover what you believe to be treasure, you are legally required to report it to the local coroner within 14 days of the find or upon realising its potential status as treasure. Informing the landowner of the find is also essential.

Failure to report a treasure find is a criminal offence, potentially resulting in an unlimited fine, up to three months in custody, or both. Reporting enables an assessment of the find’s historical value and determines if it qualifies as treasure. The Portable Antiquities Scheme also offers guidance on any finds.

Who Is Entitled to the Treasure?

Once declared treasure, the find is usually vested in the Crown or an appointed franchisee, such as the Duchy of Cornwall or Duchy of Lancaster. The Treasure Valuation Committee then determines its value, and the item is offered to a museum for public benefit.

Proceeds from the sale are generally shared between the finder and the landowner, provided permission to search was granted and all actions were in good faith. Additional claims may be made by tenants occupying the land.

If the Crown does not wish to retain the treasure, rights revert to the finder, who can then dispose of it. The landowner has 28 days to raise any objections to this.

For instance, the Newark Torc, an Iron Age necklace, earned finder Maurice Richardson a reward of £175,000 from its sale. The Torc is now on display at the National Civil War Centre Museum.