In the second of our Metal Detecting Journey series. Digger Dawn introduces us to her adventure.
At the age of 13, while playing hide and seek on a building site, I dug my toe into the dirt and saw a coin appear. I pulled the coin from the mud, wiped it clean and looked that coin with absolute glee, wondering what it was, why it had been dropped, and who had dropped it. I rushed excitedly to the local library to try and find a coin book to identify it, and found it was a George 3rd spade guinea. I kept that coin for many years, and my interest in history, buildings and anything else historical became an avid interest from then on.
Fast forward to 8 years ago, I saw a metal detector for sale in Maplins, £50 it looked like it would be good, I bought it. Excitedly, I headed off for Blackpool beach, dreams of gold rings and old Victorian coins in my head. I switched on my new metal detector excited to do the same, but it just beeped constantly, I was conscious of the noise I was making, I was unable to find anything no matter how hard I tried. I felt foolish, and after a short while, I gave up and rushed back to the car, highly disappointed, feeling that the hobby must need a lot of technical understanding. I put the detector away in the shed, and there it remained for the next 5 years.
One day early in 2015, I watched a TV program ‘American Diggers’ on National Geographic channel. The guys in it, were highly excited by the history they found, and after watching I felt motivated to give metal detecting another go.
I filmed my first outing, mainly for memories, and that’s how my Youtube channel Digger Dawn started. I never expected anyone to watch my video, but they did and I currently have over 7000 subscribers. I quickly realised my Maplin detector wasn’t up to much. So I bought a Garrett Euroace, and have since used a Garrett 400i and am currently using the AT Max.
My memories of those early days when I knew nothing, have always remained strong in my mind. I have tried to talk simply in videos, to help new people to the hobby understand the basics, the ethics and the rules of metal detecting. I remember the excitement of my first coin and how I felt, and I know that people are feeling that same sense of excitement at their first coin finds, and I feel happy for them, and very sad when the odd seasoned detectorist belittles them.
The hobby has changed my life in so many ways, I have connected with so many like minded people, and am on a constant journey of learning and research. I look forward to each weekend, knowing I will be out in the fresh air with stunning scenery, finding lost items from the past. With every find the thoughts that run through my mind excitedly formulate into a story of how and why it was lost. I have kept every item I have ever found and now have buckets of old Copper coins and artefacts.
Sometimes life gets hectic, with working a full time job as a teacher in a special education needs dept, running a FB group with 7,000 members and editing videos constantly, but I love it all. I love helping others, looking at peoples finds and sharing their joy. When life gets tough, I simply get out my best finds box and while I sit looking at all the history I have found, I then find myself just looking forward to the next time I am able to get out metal detecting.
Just a note, All of my finds that fall within the UK treasure act are reported to my local finds liaison officer for inclusion in the Portable Antiquities Scheme Database. I would advise all readers to do so, and if unsure of the UK Treasure act, refer to the Portable Antiquities Scheme database website –
Click on the main image or the image below to find Digger Dawn on Youtube Or any of the other images to reach the Digger Dawn Facebook Group.
Top lady who helps explain things when you first start detecting. Well done Dawn x
Dawn is an amazing ambassador to the hobby. She is willing to always share her knowledge with others.