The Weald and Downland Metal Detecting Club were invited to visit a farm in Horley, and among other items they found a William (I) "The Lion" of Scotland Cut Half Penny.The coin was minted by the moneyers Hue and Walter, of Edinburgh and Perth, in the 13th century.
William I reigned 1165 to 1214.The gold coin below is a worn Belgo Gallic stater. The reverse, if it had been more visible, would have shown a disjointed horse going left, with pellets in the field of the coin, along with symbols. The obverse would have shown a depiction of a long-haired Appollo. Most interesting. The coins were thought to have been minted in Northern France and brought over to this country. They do turn up in the South East but less often elsewhere. The design was dated from between 150 to 50 BC. This was found in the same area as the Cut Half Penny.
( Photos: Mark Davison. )
Some years ago, the then owner of 2.5 acres of land in the Haroldslea area found a number of items with a metal detector. These are shown below: ( Photos. P. Cox.)
The "Royal Dock Yard Battalion" existed around 1850. They were established as volunteers to guard the dockyards. It is a mystery why this item found its way to Haroldslea!
"On War Service" badge. These were worn by munition workers (probably in the munition works near Horley Station during WWI)
Military Buttons and a badge of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
Buttons, mainly plain except top row which appear to be Livery Buttons, but all corroded.
Many old coins were also found, most too corroded to identify, but a few were identified, and are below:
A milk churn label belonging to John Ernest Furness who owned the Haroldslea estate 1919-1925
For more information see "Personalities."