I've not been out detecting much recently. This lot came from inland - it's nice to get away from the beach occasionally. Buckles seem to be quite a common find. These are all some sort of copper alloy so they're quite well preserved. The barrel-tap key is a throwback to a different way of life. … Continue reading Metal detecting – recent finds

Why do people melt down aluminium on the beach? You find a lot of this and it gives a strong 'coin like' signal on the old detector. The small ingots can be a sod to find amongst the pebbles.

Crotal bells are a favourite find for metal detectorists. They were attached to horse harnesses to warn people of the approach of horses on narrow lanes. They were in use from medieval times until the nineteenth century. This is not a crotal bell. At a stretch it might be a budgie bell - attached to … Continue reading Find of the day #9 – Bell

I've no idea what this is. The red metal is a coppery material, the yellow is brassy. I get the feeling it might be the innards of something larger. If you have an idea what it might be - please do let me know.

Is this a shotgun cartridge? It seems a strange find for a beach. People do find Second World War and earlier ammo though. UPDATE: Apparently it's a cannon shell. It's a pretty big one!

If you see a size you need, let me know.

I'm guessing that when the chain rusts the 'pearls' probably aren't real.

A small sample of the beer bottle tops scattered across Bexhill's beach. Not good if you're barefoot. Other beer brands are available. The printed squares are 1cm by 1cm.