Gosberton Risegate Dig – Thursday 3rd July
Our latest outing took us to the fields of Gosberton Risegate, a fenland village long shaped by farming and settlement. The wide, open landscape and July sunshine made for a great day of digging. Beneath the soil, we uncovered a rich mix of history — Saxon silver, medieval halves, Elizabethan coinage and even a few modern surprises.
Below are the words of the detectorists themselves, sharing their finds and thoughts from the day:
Adam Hall’s Saxon Sceatta
Adam produced the star find of the day — a stunning Saxon Sceatta. Holding a piece of silver struck over a thousand years ago is an unforgettable experience, and Adam’s discovery will be remembered as one of the highlights of the season.
Malcolm Baggaley’s Medieval Silver and Saxon Pins
Malcolm summed up the day as “hard but enjoyable” and was rewarded with a Henry III well-clipped cut half. To add to that, he also unearthed two Saxon pin heads, one decorated with a ring-and-dot design — delicate reminders of early medieval craftsmanship.
Steve Watson’s Mystery Find
Steve puzzled the team with a mystery object. “Any ideas???” he asked. Malcolm suggested it resembled a Terret ring with the bar missing. Alongside this curiosity, Steve also turned up a Henry III voided longcross cut half penny, confirmed by Max Dobb as a piece from the Canterbury mint.
Redvan Ric’s Roman Mount
Ric brought a touch of Roman history to the day with what looks to be a Roman horse mount (awaiting confirmation). Finds like this remind us just how deep the history of Gosberton Risegate runs.
Rod Bogunovic’s Elizabethan Cut Half
Rod enjoyed “very easy digging” in the warm weather and was rewarded with a good mix of items: buttons, a musket ball, a ring, and a clipped Elizabeth I cut half penny.
Ben Lamb’s Norwegian Coin and George V Florin
Ben added a surprise international twist to the finds with an 1884 Norwegian 1 Ore — a first for him. Alongside it came a handsome George V Florin, which cleaned up beautifully after a soda bath. “Thanks for the dig,” Ben said, summing up a rewarding day.
Kev Taylor’s Silver Sixpence
Kev rounded off the day with a 50% silver sixpence, found after plenty of buttons and bullets. But for him, the real highlight was Adam’s Sceatta: “What a stunning silver coin,” he said. Though Kev couldn’t make the next dig, he left the team with a wish: “Find a Saxon penny for me!”
What the Land Gave Us
The fields of Gosberton Risegate offered a rich spread of history — from Saxon silver to medieval pennies, Elizabethan coinage, and even a Norwegian coin far from its home. Each detectorist added a different piece to the story, showing how varied the past beneath our feet can be.
More than anything, the day showed what this hobby is all about: friendship, curiosity, and the excitement of uncovering history together. Gosberton Risegate will be remembered not only for the finds but for the spirit of the day itself.
