An update on my previous post. I have checked for land around Barlick covered by the "Countryside Stewardship Scheme".

There are two areas shown on the government "Magic" database. The land starting at Causway Carr and running up through Gillians to Bancroft Farm is all under CSS agreement. I assume that this is all of the Simpsons land, I'll have to check with them. The other area is a vast tract of land on Whitemoor (including the land that Doc's place sits on) up past Duckpond and as far over as the Shooting Butts. The land on the moor at the other side of Folly Lane on the way up Weets is not in any scheme at present so ther is possible mileage in seeking permission to detect further up your suspected M62. The land between Longfield Lane and Manchester Road with Hey at the bottom to where it joins with Simpsons is also outside a CSS agreement. I think this will be Sid Demains.

http://www.magic.gov.uk/website/magic/viewer.htm?startTopic=magicall&chosenLayers=csaIndex&box=387010:445913:387858:446325

Although the land under the CSS is not directly scheduled DEFRA have closed access by the back door, even though there may be no plans to investigate the potential archeology "officially". I can apply for permission to detect on the CSS land directly to DEFRA as long as the landowner agrees, I wonder if I would be wasting my time?

I thought this was the British Gas adverts all over again for a minute.........

'If you see Sid, tell him"

Here we go, this months Treasure Hunting magazine has a full report on this find.

Strictly speaking I should have posted this in the "Summat fer Nowt" thread of this topic rather than here in "Site Research".

Apparently the father and son pair of detectorists were searching on a "third choice" field that they had permission to search on but had never turned anything special up in the past. They chose to detect on a small rise in the newly ploughed field as it was drier underfoot than the rest of the field after heavy rain. The hoard was found within half an hour of commencing to search. The first indication was the retreival of a few pieces of lead sheet, when removed there was still a signal in the hole so they dug further to reveal the top of the cup which they initialy thought was an old ball cock. On cleaning the mud from this item they revealed the intricate patterns apparent on the object and saw four coins protruding from the open top. One of the coins was a penny of Edward the Elder. Further carefull excavation round the vessel revealed various silver ingots around the outside of the pot and a silver chain.

At this point the detectorists decided to leave the pot in-situ, they returned home with the finds already excavated and contacted their Finds Liason Officer linked to The Portable Antiquities Scheme. The landowner was informed of the discovery and it was decided to hand the hoard to the Finds Liason Officer who arranged excavation of the silver pot and any other artefacts. The coroner was informed of the find.

The hole ended up about 17" deep after excavation. The pot was lifted with all it's contents in-situ and sent to the British Museum who X-Rayed the pot and then removed and recorded the contents 1cm at a time. The cup (as it is now known) is only about 12cm in diameter and about the same depth. The cup and contents weighed 2.5kg and contained 617 coins plus a gold bracelet found halfway down the contents. The contents of the cup and the items found around it have been cleaned and catalogued by the British Museum. All the artefacts are now awaiting a Treasure Enquiry to establish the value.

Just goes to show, the detectorists were not expecting to find anything special in this less than ideal field that they had detected before. No particular research had been put into the site. This was a totaly random find. They played the unfolding scenario exactly "by the book" of responsible metal detecting. More to come on this when the valuation committee has reached a concensus. In the meantime you can see pictures of this fabulous find here...

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Harrogate+Hoard

See what I mean "Site Research" or "Summat fer Nowt"