The Accidental Detectorist: Uncovering an Underground Obsession

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I’m giving this book 4 stars as I liked it and I think that other readers will like this book too, especially if they like reading non-fiction, factual books or memoirs. It is a result of Covid lockdowns and a shift in the nature of travel writing that meant that Richardson had time on his hands when a eight hundred word article becomes an obsession.

The Accidental Detectorist: Uncovering an Underground Obsession The Accidental Detectorist: Uncovering an Underground Obsession

Mention is also made of the notorious “nighthawks” who detect by night without the landowner’s permission and make no effort to record their finds properly as they are just intent on finding the artifacts that will make money. Richardson has a writing style that makes the book accessible; there are photos inside and it is nice to dip in and out of. As he immerses himself further in the world of metal detecting, exposing the shady activities of 'nighthawks', attending rallies and making lifelong friends, a change comes over him. The historical stories that they represent become fascinating and informative, leading to much speculation and conjecture. Having absolutely no interest in the hobby, other than watching the TV series I thought I would take a punt and I was so glad that I did.This gentle comedy had passed me by when it first aired, but I stumbled across it during lockdown and was so pleased I did. Some people are there in the hopes of life changing discoveries, others to consolidate their collection of finds by discovering specific items or remnants of a particular time. As Richardson says, he would have chosen Albania or Madagascar rather than Hampshire to go treasure hunting, but his local area suddenly appears to be a kind of undiscovered country. I enjoyed reading about the sense of community within the hobby, it reminds us how history can bring us together. In the local parish of Messing cum Inworth where I grew up, there are finds from Iron Age, Roman, Medieval and Post Medieval times.

The Accidental Detectorist: The Adventures of a Reluctant Metal The Accidental Detectorist: The Adventures of a Reluctant Metal

Richardson also explains the more shady side of this hobby with ‘nighthawks’ and people who don’t adhere to the rules. It was a journey that would take him to various parts of the country from his local village to the wide skies of Norfolk. For obvious reasons, many a nod to The Detectorists TV show but also some very interesting facts about several detectorist led finds and information for would be detectorists also.

Previous books include the travelogues Breakfast in Brighton: Adventures on the Edge of Britain and (with the actor Richard Wilson) Britain's Best Drives: Journeys Back to the Golden Age of Motoring. As a history and archaeology fanatic, I do feel I should tell you where I stand on metal detecting before I share my book review, I know it can be a touchy subject within our community! Charting his course from utter novice to “one of the crew”, Nigel describes his tentative steps into the hobby, which seems for him to be as much about seeking a sense of identity and belonging — following all the upheavals and upsets of Brexit followed by the pandemic — as it does about buried treasure. I read this non-fiction book as a hardback copy, and I’m very glad that I took part on this tour as I really liked this book.