Metal Detecting on Crown Estate Foreshore
Anyone wishing to go metal detecting on Crown Estate foreshore will require a permit.
This page contains a brief description of The Crown Estate’s general position regarding metal detecting and treasure hunting on our foreshore.
What is Meant by ‘Foreshore’?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the foreshore is defined as the land situated between mean high water and mean low water. In Scotland the definition is different and is defined as land between mean high water of spring tides and mean low water of spring tides.
Obtaining a Metal Detecting Permit
This is a three-step process. The foreshore must be confirmed as The Crown Estate’s; any existing tenancy can then be identified; and if all conditions have been satisfied, a permit may be issued.
Those wishing to obtain a permit for England, Wales or Northern Ireland should submit a covering letter or email with a map or co-ordinates clearly indicating the intended areas of search, to:
The Crown Estate
Marine Department
16 New Burlington Place
London
W1S 2HX
 
For permissions relating to Scottish foreshore the same details should be sent to:
The Crown Estate
Marine Department
6 Bell’s Brae
Edinburgh
EH4 3BJ
We can then establish if The Crown Estate owns the area, and whether or not there are existing tenancies or licences to be considered.
Where foreshore is leased to a local authority we will provide contact details, and the appropriate body will be able to deal with search consents at its own discretion.
If the area is owned by The Crown Estate and is not leased we will issue you with a metal detecting permit to search the foreshore if it is appropriate to do so. The standard permit will be valid for twelve months and for this we charge an administrative fee of £20.00 (inclusive of VAT).
A copy of the metal detecting permit terms and conditions can be reviewed on this website.
Restrictions of Metal Detecting Permit
The Crown Estate lets and licences a great many areas of foreshore to various tenants and licensees. Subsequently any metal detecting permits that we issue will be subject to the existing rights of all of our tenants and licensees whose interests may be affected.
In addition, consent is subject to any statutory or other designations which may apply. For example, if the foreshore is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest the relevant authority may raise an objection if any activity could conceivably cause damage or aggravation to the area in question.
River Thames Foreshore
The Crown Estate and the Port of London Authority have for several years jointly administered a permit scheme for searching parts of the tidal foreshore of the River Thames.
For this a permit from the Port of London Authority is required. Please contact:
Port of London Authority
London River House
Royal Pier Road
Gravesend
DA12 2BG
Finds
All objects found on Crown Estate foreshore must be reported. We reserve the right to ownership of all such objects. We will seek advice on the preservation of any such objects from local or national museums. We will also discuss with the relevant authorities the treatment of treasure (as defined by the Treasure Act 1996) and wreck (as defined by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995).
In England and Wales there is a voluntary recording scheme, called the Portable Antiquities Scheme, for archaeological objects that have been found. We request that our permit holders report their finds to their local Finds Liaison Officer: contact details can be found on the Portable Antiquities Scheme website, or by contacting:
The Portable Antiquities Scheme
The British Museum
London
WC1B 3DG
telephone +44 (0) 20 7323 8611
In Northern Ireland there is a statutory scheme to protect archaeological or historic finds other than treasure trove. The scheme is contained in the Historic Monuments Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 and includes an obligation to report the find to the Police or the Director of the Ulster Museum.
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