Hobbyist Unearths England’s Largest Gold Nugget Despite Faulty Gear

A gold nugget weighing 64.8 grams has been uncovered in the Shropshire Hills, marking the biggest ever recorded in England. This remarkable find, dubbed Hiro’s Nugget, is anticipated to exceed £30,000 at auction.

The lucky discoverer, Richard Brock, a 67-year-old retired cameraman from Somerset, found the nugget during a metal detecting event in May. His story is notable not only because of the nugget’s size, but also due to the challenging conditions under which it was found.

Gold nuggets of this magnitude are exceedingly rare in England, where most metal detector enthusiasts typically uncover historical relics rather than precious metal specimens.

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Remarkable Find Despite Equipment Malfunction

Brock faced a series of hurdles from the start. After driving three and a half hours, he arrived an hour late and discovered his main metal detector was broken. Forced to use an older backup model with a dim display, his gear was less effective than others’ devices at the event.

“I actually arrived about an hour late, thinking I’d missed the action,” he said, describing how other detectorists were already fully equipped. His initial efforts yielded only minor items, including what he described as “a few rusty old tent pegs.”

Within twenty minutes of searching, the faulty device picked up a distinct signal. Brock dug down between 13 and 15 centimeters and uncovered the gold nugget. The discovery quickly drew attention as fellow detectorists arrived to scan the surrounding area.

“I was a perhaps bit too honest and started showing people, and then all of a sudden I had swarms of other detectorists scanning the same area,” he recalled. “I couldn’t look for anything else as I had the landowner, the organizer of the dig, and every other detectorist around me trying to get a look at this nugget.”

Close-up view of Hiro’s Nugget. Credit: Mullock Jones

Setting a New Record for England

The nugget’s 64.8-gram weight surpasses the previous record holder in England, which was 54 grams. Brock noted that although larger nuggets have been found elsewhere in the UK, none have been uncovered on English territory.

For context, Wales has yielded a nugget weighing 97.12 grams near Anglesey, while Scotland’s 2019 Reunion Nugget tipped the scales at 121.3 grams. These findings highlight the unique significance of Hiro’s Nugget within England.

“We’re pretty confident it is the biggest found on English soil,” Brock said. The nugget’s size and condition contribute to its estimated value of at least £30,000, with a sale planned through Mullock Jones auctioneers.

Hiro’s Nugget alongside a 50-pence coin to illustrate its scale. Credit: Mullock Jones

Insights into the Site’s Geological History

The find’s location, near Much Wenlock in Shropshire, may shed light on the origin of the gold. The area, believed to have functioned as an old transit route with railway lines, could have introduced gold-bearing materials.

As reported by The Guardian, some stones found in the vicinity might have Welsh origins, a region known for its gold reserves. This could explain the rare appearance of gold in an area not typically associated with such finds.

Following common practice, the proceeds from the upcoming auction will be shared between Brock and the landowner. He emphasized that the discovery relied more on vigilance and patience than on advanced technology.

“The machine I was using was pretty much kaput – it was only half working,” stated Brock. “It just goes to show that it doesn’t really matter what equipment you use. If you are walking over the find and are alert enough to what might be lurking underneath the soil, that makes all the difference.”