Maurice Richardson - The Newark Torc

24 August 2017The Newark Torc – Maurice Richardson

What a coup?  Members were treated to an enthusiastic presentation by the man who had metal detected and discovered the Newark Torc, currently classed as the second best of its kind in the world! (and estimated current value £6m, although  Maurice altruistically sold it to Newark museum, so that it would remain in the area it was found, sharing the £350000 with the landowner.)

It is Iron Age, 2200 years old, 2lb of solid gold, made from 150 feet of gold wire, found in February 2005 in mud and rain 2foot 4inches underground.

As a well-established Tree surgeon he had many rural contacts and was invited by one particular Farmer to do some metal detecting in his fields.  For two years he searched the fields finding all sorts of Roman ‘stuff’, but one field he got lots of ‘beeps’, but reckoned, from the stuff he found it was the wreck of an aeroplane, so he almost gave up on it.  One late wet afternoon he returned and the field was so muddy he started detecting at the hedge side & discovered what at first he thought was another Wilko’s brass curtain rail, but further digging opened up the second ‘terminal’ of the Torc and the rest is history.

He was understandably overcome with his discovery, put it on the passenger seat of his car & drove home. Showed his wife, who was underwhelmed, but reading up in his many books found reference to similar items and was then concerned about being burgled, so he wrapped it in cloth, first putting it in the wardrobe.  However, unable to sleep, he then transferred it to an underfloor place. He then made arrangements to take it to the Coroner (Dr. Nigel Chapman) with his brother, a CID man, to register the find, carrying it through Nottingham in a carrier bag!

Naturally once the Coroner realised what an amazing discovery Maurice had made, the British Museum were notified, the BBC, then ITV interviewed him & the story went viral worldwide via the internet.

Not only did he regale us with entertaining anecdotes, but brought with him a wide array of his local finds from his many years of detecting.

There was a £500 cheque presentation to Bill Banner in support of the Newton Defibrillator.                                                                                                                                                  AR