Diss Museum's metal detector display proves a great find

An exhibition at Diss Museum has been proving eye-catching for visitors.

It displays the metal detecting finds of two friends, Joe Edwards-Gill and Nick Bateman.

More than 100 items are on display, which the pair have discovered in Diss and the surrounding area.

Joe, a teacher from Homersfield, has been metal detecting for five years, and Nick, a tradesman from Burston, for two and a half years.

They are both members of the National Council for Metal Detecting.

Joe said: “The exhibition came about after Nick found a gold Roman earring, which was officially declared treasure.

“We work with the finds liaison officer for the county under the portable antiquity scheme and she suggested we use the earring as a starting point for an exhibition, and suggested we approach a small museum.

"Nick immediately thought of Diss Museum.

“It has a community cabinet where the finds are on display. It seems to be going down well and has around two weeks left to run.”

Items on display include a range of finds across the ages, including Roman brooches and coins, early Anglo-Saxon artefacts, medieval coins, and a heraldic horse pendant.

Stars of the show include Nick’s gold Roman earring and a dagger’s quillion (guard) from the Wars of the Roses, which Nick found in two halves, 11 months apart.

“On paper, Norfolk is the best place in the word for finds,” said Joe.

“When Nick and I go out, we feel just like a real life Lance and Andy from The Detectorists TV show.

“It is a fantastic hobby. When the metal detector picks things up, you feel like a kid at Christmas, wondering what it might be.

“Then you go home and research the find. I have found so much out about our local history.

“I hope people enjoy the exhibition and we are delighted to have been able to hold our first one in Diss.”