The day started in the courtyard of a beautiful historic coach house in the Eridge area.
This dig was a bit different from the usual treasure-hunt fantasy people imagine when they hear “metal detecting”.
It was a family day. Good weather. Good company. Kids getting stuck in. Open grassland, a lovely old setting, and a proper relaxed pace to the whole thing.
The detecting ground, open pasture under blue skies.
The site itself had real character. Historic buildings, open fields, animals nearby, and enough space for the children to feel like they were on a proper adventure rather than just tagging along with the adults.
What We Found
We didn’t pull a hoard out of the ground, but we did find a couple of interesting bits and, more importantly, the children found their own version of buried treasure.
One of the clearer finds from the day, a small Primus Sweden piece.
The standout photographed item was a small oval piece marked Primus Sweden, likely part of an older branded object or tool. Not a fortune-maker, but exactly the sort of modest, human little object that gives a field some personality.
The best kind of treasure, the one the kids think is brilliant.
The children also helped dig up a larger cylindrical object, which instantly became more exciting than anything with an auction estimate attached. That’s the joy of these days, value isn’t always monetary.
More Than a Detecting Day
There was lunch in the sunshine, sheep wandering nearby, and loads of those small in-between moments that make a permission memorable.
Not technically treasure, but definitely part of the atmosphere.
This is the bit I love most, kids actually taking part, not just watching from the sidelines.
Honest version: this wasn’t a blockbuster finds day. It was better than that. It was a real family dig, on a lovely site, with a few modest finds and a lot of good memories.
Why Days Like This Matter
JOMF isn’t only about high-value discoveries. It’s about access, experience, shared days out, and building something people actually want to belong to.
If the children go home muddy, excited, and convinced they’ve found treasure, that counts. If the adults go home thinking “that was a really good day”, that counts too.
Want to Join the Next Dig?
We’re building a club around real permissions, real countryside, and real shared experiences.
Join JOMFWritten by Steven Hood, Founder