Embleton Bay, Northumberland, Jeremy Bolwell, geograph.org.uk via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
A newly married couple lost their heirloom wedding rings in the sea at Embleton Bay on their honeymoon. Two local detectorists found them within five minutes.
Sarah Stone and Logan Mills, newly married and from Oxford, were on honeymoon in Northumberland when they went swimming at Embleton Bay and lost their wedding rings. The rings were family heirlooms, and the couple were convinced they had gone for good.
They asked local people for help, and were pointed towards Andy Grant and Lorna Rawlings, a metal-detecting couple from the nearby village of Craster. Mr Grant had already built up a reputation for finding lost rings in the area.
He said what struck him when Mr Mills phoned was how upset he sounded. The pair went down to the beach to search, and according to Ms Stone they found the rings within five minutes of starting.
Ms Stone said she could hardly believe how quickly it happened, and that it was good to know kindness was still alive and that there were still heroes about.
Reported by BBC News (31 July 2026). Written for Global Finds from that report. Photo: Embleton Bay, Northumberland, Jeremy Bolwell, geograph.org.uk via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Those four are for England and Wales, where the Portable Antiquities Scheme records finds and the Treasure Act decides what must be reported.
Scotland runs its own system, and every find is reportable there — not only treasure. Treasure Trove Unit ›
The Republic of Ireland is different again, and severely so. Searching for archaeological objects without the Minister’s written consent is a criminal offence carrying fines or imprisonment, and the definition is broad enough to cover coins, buttons and buckles of almost any age. Do not assume British rules travel with you. The law, from the National Museum ›
Northern Ireland is stricter still. The Treasure Act applies and finds go to National Museums NI within fourteen days, but any searching that involves digging — metal detecting expressly included — needs a licence, and licences are only granted for archaeological projects. National Museums NI ›
This site covers discoveries from all over the world, and so does the variation in the law — from a recording scheme that thanks you, to a criminal offence. Wherever you are searching, find out what applies there before you go, not after.
