Medieval Riches Unearthed in Nottinghamshire

In March 1966, a routine building project in Nottinghamshire led to an extraordinary discovery when a digger unearthed the Fishpool Hoard. This massive find consisted of over 1,200 gold coins and nine pieces of jewelry, making it the largest collection of medieval gold coins ever discovered in the UK. The incident marked a pivotal moment in British archaeology.

Workers initially pocketed some of the treasure, but eventually handed it over to authorities. However, this did not end the story, as allegations of missing coins and police impropriety soon surfaced. A local policeman was suspended, and a detective took charge, even transporting some of the gold to London for expert examination amid security concerns, heightened by the recent theft of the Jules Rimet Trophy.

Experts dated the coins from the 1350s to 1464, suggesting a connection to the Wars of the Roses and potentially King Henry VI's rebellion. The location, within Sherwood Forest near a priory, points to a secluded spot for hiding valuable assets during a turbulent period. The hoard's value at the time was substantial, equivalent to many years' wages for a skilled tradesman.

An inquest in December 1966 revealed that some workers had not been fully honest about their findings, and accusations were made against a suspended police constable, who was later cleared. Ultimately, only lorry driver Bernard Beeton and young David Welham, who had handed in their found coins, were awarded a share of the treasure, with Welham even appearing on a children's television show.