Celtic gold is unearthed quite regularly in the UK. However, irrespective of who found the treasure trove the Queen owned it all. In 1996, a new law redefined treasure and what must be done with it.
‘Extraordinary Discovery of Gold.–On Friday Mr. Kell, coroner for the Rape of Hastings, held an inquest “touching the finding and discovery of certain bars and pieces of gold,” in the parish of Mantfield, in East Sussex. Mr. Reynolds, solicitor to the Treasury, was present to watch the inquiry on the part of the Crown, and Mr. W. Savery on the part of two persons supposed to be interested. At the inquest, which lasted five hours, it was elicited that on the 12th of January last, William Butchers, a labourer, whilst ploughing, turned up what he took to be a quantity of old brass, connected by a series of rings or links, and extending about a yard in length. Each link was about an inch and a half long, and an inch wide. Butchers, on weighing it, found that it was a little over eleven pounds, and he sold it as old brass to a man named Silas Thomas for 3s. Thomas, in his turn, sold it to his brother-in-law, Stephen Willett, a cab-driver at Hastings, but who had at one time been a Californian gold-digger, and at once recognised the metal as solid gold. Shortly afterwards suspicion was excited from the fact that both Willett and Thomas appeared suddenly to have become possessed of a large supply of money, and the police were induced to institute inquiries in the matter. The result was that Willett was taken into custody, but afterwards discharged, on the ground that the Magistrates had no jurisdiction, and that an inquest before the coroner was necessary. In the meantime her Majesty’s Treasury, on being apprised of the discovery, directed an investigation to be made, when it was ascertained that Thomas and Willett had taken 300l. to the bank at Hastings, and opened an account there ; and by tracing back the notes it was found that a cheque had been given to Willett by Messrs. Brown, the gold refiners in Cheapside, in payment of a sum of 529l. for 123 ounces of solid gold. The jury, at the close of the inquest, returned a verdict to the effect that the gold so singularly discovered was the property of the Queen, and that Butchers, Thomas, and Willett concealed the finding of the same ; and it is understood that ulterior proceedings will be taken against the latter. It is believed that the bars of gold had lain in the field for nearly two thousand years, and that they were ornaments worn by the ancient Celtic Kings.’
Stamford Mercury, 3 April, 1863.