Things We Found in the Ground: A Metal Detecting Journey Through Britain

by Eleanor Bruce, Lucilla Gray

In this guide-that’s-not-a-guide, metal detectorist cousins Ellie and Lucie explore their local landscape, getting to grips with the hobby, history and themselves along the way.

‘Enchanting and visceral’ DR MADELEINE PELLING

‘Brilliantly witty and magnificently down to earth’ DR REBECCA STRUTHERS

‘A joyful account of unearthing history, one discovery at a time’ SALLY COULTHARD

'An uplifting dive into the world of metal detecting' LARA MAIKLEM

'A joyful read, brimming with personal experience and unique insight’ HELEN CARR

Beginning with their first meeting in over 20 years at their grandfather’s home in Lincolnshire, the two cousins – Eleanor and Lucilla – quickly learn that each has a fascination with unearthing historic artifacts, which will set them off on their metal detecting journey …

Over many weeks and months spent digging countless holes, the pair make startling about the objects they find and what they tell us about our ancestors, about themselves and who they are as people, and about the power of community, as they forge connections with local villagers, detectorists and history lovers along the way.

This charming tale of (self-)discovery will capture the hearts and minds of those seeking escapism through the buried history that we walk over every day.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Archaeology

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2026

Reviews

[Maggie Timlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unearthing absolute gems

During the pandemic friends Elenor and Lucilla were both looking around for soothing to fill their time and they light on metal detecting. They both want to find Roman stuff. What follows is their account of what they did right and what they got wrong. In amongst their story they have included gobbets of history and archaeology they stories of the items they found.

This is a charming book about finding a new hobby, jumping in feet first and letting it slowly change you. It is also a bit of a history book and an appreciation for the community that can be found when you need it.

Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of this book.

[Susan Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book !!! Follows two women who decide to have a good at metal detecting, as we follow them into alternately muddy and dry, hard packed fields, their excitement over finds. After each find they delve into its history and the people's who used the find. All producing a very good snapshot of the history of England and it's waves of settlers. A very informative and enjoyable book, made me want to try my hand at detecting!

[rachael gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt like I was on every dig with them, getting mud behind my nails.

[Tom Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good mix of memoir and history book. Thoroughly enjoyed following their journey and learning about metal detecting and the history of their finds.