The Trent valley is the productive heart of Nottinghamshire – rich in Roman, Viking and medieval material. The Fosse Way and other Roman roads cross the county and are reliable detecting corridors.
FROM THE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME
Selected archaeological finds from the PAS records for Nottinghamshire.
MEDIEVALA cast copper alloy annular ring of worn and flattened hexagonal section, probably a harness fitting dating from the Medieval or Post Medieval period…
Explore this findPhoto: ikw1945 / West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service · CC-BY
Licence label and image metadata on the linked PAS record.
MEDIEVALA Medieval horse harness pendant dating from AD 1250 - 1350. It has a sexfoil gules (inlaid with red enamel) on central circular disc…
Explore this findPhoto: ikw1945 / West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service · CC-BY
Licence label and image metadata on the linked PAS record.
No clubs are currently listed in Nottinghamshire. Browse the wider clubs directory for nearby options.
No county-linked FLO profile is listed here. Browse the FLO directory to check reporting contacts and area coverage.
Triassic sandstone (Sherwood Sandstone) – good drainage, excellent for detecting. River Trent and Soar terrace gravels are very productive. Coal Measures in the west.
Trent valley arable farmland, fields along Fosse Way, Sherwood Sandstone farmland, Nottinghamshire wolds fields
Roman coins and bronzes along Fosse Way, Viking Danelaw material in the Trent valley, medieval Sherwood Forest estate items, Bronze Age material in the Trent corridor
Nottinghamshire’s Trent valley has produced significant Viking-age finds reflecting the Danelaw boundary. Roman Ad Pontem (Thorpe) and Margidunum produce consistent Roman material.
The Trent itself was a major Viking-age highway – the fields along its banks are consistently productive. Fosse Way is reliable for Roman material particularly near known settlement sites.
You can detect on private land in Nottinghamshire with the landowner’s permission. You must avoid scheduled monuments, SSSIs and other protected sites. Joining a local club is the easiest way to reach permissioned land.
Yes. Metal detecting is legal in Nottinghamshire on land where you have the landowner’s permission, as long as you avoid protected sites and follow the law on reporting treasure and recording finds.
Nottinghamshire is covered by a Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer who records finds made by the public. See the FLO section on this page for contact details, or search finds.org.uk.
PAS lists 18,468 database records representing 21,124 recorded objects for Nottinghamshire, checked 2 November 2026. These are recorded entries rather than a count of every find made. The period and object-type categories shown in the PAS section are selected, incomplete lists.
Metal detectors are prohibited at Wollaton Hall and Deer Park and Nottingham Castle grounds. Rules for other council-owned sites vary.
PAS data from finds.org.uk. Last checked 2 November 2026.
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