A predominantly urban county. Very limited detecting opportunities, though the Tyne valley fringe and coastal areas have some potential. Roman Segedunum (Wallsend) influences the area.
FROM THE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME
Selected archaeological finds from the PAS records for Tyne and Wear.
MEDIEVALA possible lead cast horse harness pendant, dating to c. AD 1200-1400. The object is cruciform in shape, with rounded terminals at the end…
Explore this findPhoto: The Portable Antiquities Scheme · CC-BY
Licence label and image metadata on the linked PAS record.
POST MEDIEVALA complete silver threepence of Elizabeth I, second issue, tower of London mint, North 1998, dating to AD 1569.
Explore this findPhoto: The Portable Antiquities Scheme · CC-BY
Licence label and image metadata on the linked PAS record.
Tyne and Wear has a coastline, and beach detecting follows different rules to farmland. Most foreshore between the high and low water marks in England is Crown Estate land, and the Crown Estate operates a general permission for recreational detecting on much of its managed foreshore, though you should check the current terms. Council-owned beaches often need the local authority’s permission, and some beaches are privately owned or leased. Always check for scheduled monuments, SSSIs and local byelaws before detecting, and never detect where it is signposted as prohibited.
Coal Measures and urban development dominate. River Tyne alluvium in the valley. Coastal sand dunes at South Shields.
Tyne valley rural fringe, coastal farmland near South Shields
Roman material near Segedunum, post-medieval mining community finds, coastal loss site material
Roman Segedunum (Wallsend) – the eastern terminus of Hadrian’s Wall – has produced significant Roman military material in its vicinity.
Focus on the few rural pockets remaining. The Tyne valley west of the urban area transitions into Northumberland – base yourself there for serious detecting.
You can detect on private land in Tyne and Wear with the landowner’s permission, and on much of the Crown Estate foreshore if you are on the coast. 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 Tyne and Wear 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.
Tyne and Wear 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 427 database records representing 551 recorded objects for Tyne and Wear, 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.
North Tyneside restricts intrusive detecting at certain managed sites. Other Tyne and Wear councils and locations have separate rules.
PAS data from finds.org.uk. Last checked 2 November 2026.
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