Man digs up largest gold nugget ever found in England – weighing 64.8g

A retired cameraman has found England’s largest-ever gold nugget, worth an estimated £30,000.

Richard Brock, a seasoned metal detectorist, made the record-breaking discovery despite showing arriving late to a group search and having faulty equipment.

Driving from Somerset to Shropshire, Brock, 67, faced issues with his metal-detecting gear upon arrival, forcing him to use an older, defective machine.

But despite these challenges, luck was on his side as he unearthed a substantial 64.8g nugget just 20 minutes into the dig.

Named Hiro’s Nugget, this discovery is considered the largest of its kind in England and is anticipated to fetch a minimum of £30,000 at an ongoing timed auction until 1 April.

Prior to this discovery, the largest nugget ever found in England weighed 54g.

Brock, with 35 years of metal-detecting experience, expressed surprise at his quick success, having thought he had missed the opportunity.

He told Sky News: “I turned up late, was only there a matter of minutes, and this treasure-hunting expedition was supposed to last all day.”

Brock made the find near Much Wenlock, speculating that the area’s history as an old track with railway lines could have led to deposits of gold-rich Welsh stone.

Reflecting on his find, Brock noted that the equipment used isn’t the sole determinant of success.

“It just goes to show that it doesn’t really matter what equipment you use,” he said.

“If you are walking over the find and are alert enough to what might be lurking underneath the soil, that makes all the difference.”

Brock’s discovery makes him responsible for unearthing the largest gold nugget ever found in England.

However, research suggests larger nuggets have been found in Wales and Scotland.

In 2016, a nugget weighing 97.12g was discovered in Ynys Mon, Wales, followed by the Reunion Nugget at 121.3g found in Scotland in 2019.