Metal detecting rally held at Thickthorn Hall Estate

But could Thickthorn have more hidden charms? 

The site has been chosen for a major metal detecting rally, being held this weekend, at which enthusiasts from across the country will scour the soil in search of treasure. 

Organiser Jason Jones, known as ‘The Norfolk Button Boy’, is organising the event in the grounds of Thickthorn Hall Estate in Hethersett. 

He said: “The land is set in a lovely, historic location with streamlines, ponds, lakes, large and ancient oak trees and more. Who knows what will be recovered? 

“We all want everyone to find some amazing historic finds and work as a team to recover the history – as well as enjoy themselves and have fun.” 

The earliest description of Hethersett can be found inside the Domesday Book of 1086 and at that time it was recorded that there were perhaps 400 people in the parish.  

This was a recorded population of 131 households, making it a relatively large settlement – in fact, it would have been in the largest 20pc of settlements. 

The Domesday Book also lists Hethersett under three owners, including Count Alan of Brittany and Godric the Steward. 

Previous finds in the village based on the outskirts of Norwich include Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic tools, and Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, and Saxon artefacts.  

The hobby has had a surge in popularity in recent years, following the success of the BBC show, Detectorists. 

The series, starring Mackenzie Crook, Toby Jones, and Rachael Stirling, tells the tales of a group of detectorists based in a small East Anglian town. 

In one episode during series two, the group holds a rally - much like this weekend's event - at which one detectorist is arrested and another digs and uncovers an artefact called an aestel. 

The fully-booked rally is raising money for the charity Sunbeams Play and will take place on Sunday, August 27.