My name is Martin Scholes. I like writing reviews on Ciao. I am married, we have a cockatiel and a c...
My name is Martin Scholes. I like writing reviews on Ciao. I am married, we have a cockatiel and a cat. And a growing African Grey. Who orders the cat around!
Member since:06.12.2003
Reviews:334
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Bill Wyman's Treasure Islands, Britain's History Uncovered (co-written by Bill Wyman and Richard Havers) is a most excellent book.
Bill Wyman, rock musician, somewhat controversial man-about-town and history buff? Everyone has a dark secret in their lives. And Bill Wyman's is that he is a closet metal detectorist. Well, not so much closet, now he has written this book!
Wyman relates how he bough his first metal detector in 1991, after a trying period in his life, and then spent many happy hours and days tramping round the fields surrounding his home in rural Suffolk. Always with the permission of the farmer, of course.
Why did he take up this hobby? He relates that some men were working in the garden of his house found a 16th century water jug as they were digging. Wyman himself found a small pewter bowl in his rose garden. And he was bitten by the bug. He wanted to find out what else was in his garden, so bought a metal detector.
He discovered a coin. Which turned out not be a coin, but something a little more rare, dating back to 1580 to 1610. Subsequently he discovered nearly 300 Roman and medieval silver coins, jewellery, etc.
The introduction by Wyman is a good, broad overview of the field of responsible metal detectoring. But it becomes apparent that Wyman's interest in history dates back a long way, and since buying his house in 1968, Wyman has spent many hours poring over ancient records and old maps relating to his house and the neighbourhood.
The rest of the substantial book contains a timeline of British history, some fairly detailed snapshots of our island's history and also regional records of finds of archaeological significance. As well as finds of hoards of treasures and coins.
The book is very well laid out and is a must for anyone interested in history, metal detecting or archaeology.
It is published by Sutton in large hardback format at £25.00.
The ISBN is 0 7509 3967 2.
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I thought most people knew about his metal detecting and interest in history...maybe its because I live in the next county thats its more common knowledge?! x
Minha 30.01.2006 08:18
My father was always good at digging up things - sounds interesting. Hazel xx
Librelola 29.01.2006 22:16
I'm digging out my garden first thing in the morning! Who knows what treasures it holds? : )
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