On Sunday 7th October, around 100 people armed with metal detectors, led by Zoë Williams of Pink Wellies Metal Detecting Group set out to search 250 acres of land surrounding the windmill by special permission of the landowners. Zoë impressed upon the detectorists that they should leave no holes, hollows or mounds when they dug, leaving the ground as they had found it.
Within 3 minutes a Roman coin had been unearthed. This was only the start – during the day plenty more Roman and Mediaeval coins were discovered. Coins were not the only things discovered – the most striking find of the morning being a near perfectly preserved bronze-age spear tip or arrow head.
Quite a few bronze age artefacts were found and although we can’t say that there was a village or dwellings here it shows the area was well used in the period 1200 – 4000BC.
Of more direct relevance to the windmill was a lead weight. Shield-shaped weights of this type are described by the British Museum as mediaeval trade weights used in the early days (1200 – 1600AD) of the standard weight system of pounds and ounces (avoirdupois). The photograph shows that this one has a windmill stamped into it so we guess it was specifically for grain or flour.
A lovely seal matrix from the 14th century was also found which warranted registration with the official finds office. By 5 o’clock, most folk had dragged their weary bodies from the fields but all expressed their pleasure at detecting in such wonderful countryside and on such a perfect day. To add to this satisfaction came the news that they had collected over £1500 for the windmill. This will go a long way to paying for the annual maintenance so we are truly grateful to all who took part in this alternative style of fundraising event.
