The Garden of England has been continuously settled for over 2,000 years. Roman legions marched through here on Watling Street. Medieval pilgrims walked to Canterbury. Anglo-Saxon kings ruled from these hills. And beneath Kent's ploughed fields, that history is still waiting to be found.
Earn from finds across Kent - even if you don't discover them yourself
Join the Kent Region💰 Example: A £2,000 find could earn members £50-£200
⚡ Limited spaces available in each region
Kent occupies a unique position in British history. As the closest point to continental Europe, it was the landing point for successive waves of invaders, traders, and settlers. The Romans landed here in 43 AD. The Saxons followed. The Normans consolidated their conquest from Kent. Each civilisation left behind coins, jewellery, tools, and personal items that detectorists are still finding today.
Unlike counties further north, Kent's mild climate means the detecting season runs longer. The chalky and loamy soils preserve metal objects well, and the county's intensive agricultural use means fields are ploughed regularly, bringing fresh finds to the surface each season.
The Roman road network centred on Kent. Watling Street, the main artery from the Channel ports to London and beyond, runs straight through the county. Roman villas dotted the landscape, particularly in the fertile valleys around Maidstone and the Medway. Military camps protected the coastline. All of this means Roman coins, brooches, and military equipment remain common finds for Kent detectorists.
The areas around Canterbury (Roman Durovernum Cantiacorum) and Rochester (Durobrivae) are particularly productive. We have secured land permissions on farms that sit along the old Roman road network, giving members access to fields with genuine Roman potential.
For over 300 years, Canterbury was the most important pilgrimage destination in England. Pilgrims travelled from across Europe to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket. They dropped coins at shrines, lost personal items on the journey, and purchased pilgrim badges and souvenirs. These medieval artefacts are still being found in Kent's fields, particularly along the old pilgrimage routes.
The Weald of Kent, the forested region stretching from Tunbridge Wells to Ashford, has a different archaeological character. This was iron-working country from the Roman period through the medieval era. Saxon settlements are common here, and the heavy clay soils have preserved objects that would have corroded elsewhere.
From common bronze nummi to silver denarii and occasionally gold aurei. Kent's position on the Roman road network means coins circulated heavily here for 400 years.
Short cross and long cross pennies, cut halfpennies, and groats from the medieval period. Canterbury had its own mint producing coins for centuries.
Dress accessories, strap ends, stirrup mounts, and occasionally weapons. The Weald was Saxon territory, and their material culture is well-represented.
Lead and pewter badges from the Canterbury pilgrimage, including Becket ampullae and other religious souvenirs. These are highly collectible pieces.
Kent has produced some remarkable discoveries over the years:
JOMF has secured land permissions across Kent, from the chalk downlands in the east to the clay Weald in the west. Our permissions include working farms that are ploughed regularly, giving fresh opportunities each season. We focus on land with genuine archaeological potential, using historic maps and previous find records to identify promising areas.
We're continuously securing new permissions across the county. Members get first access to new sites as they become available, and our regional coordinators work to ensure a steady rotation of fresh ground throughout the season.
The main season runs from September through March, after harvest and before spring planting. However, Kent's varied landscape means there's usually accessible ground year-round, including pasture land and woodland edges that aren't affected by the farming calendar.
Kent has varied geology. The chalk areas in the east are excellent for any detector. The heavy clay in the Weald can be more challenging and responds better to machines with good ground balancing. Our members use everything from entry-level Minelabs to top-end XP Deus units. We're happy to advise based on your budget and the specific areas you want to detect.
We run regular group digs on our permitted land. You'll receive dates in advance, meet at a designated point, and detect together for the day. Any finds are logged, and if valuable items are discovered, the proceeds are shared according to our transparent distribution model. Beginners are welcome and experienced members are always happy to help.
No. That's the whole point of JOMF. We've already done the hard work of securing permissions with landowners across Kent. Your membership gives you access to land that would otherwise be impossible to detect on.
Join a group with established land access, organised monthly digs, and a community that shares knowledge and finds. Memberships start from £29/month with no long-term commitment.
Join Your RegionJoin a growing metal detecting community in Kent. Access private land, attend organised digs and take part in a shared rewards system across the region. Suitable for beginners and experienced detectorists.
Join the Kent Region