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Patrol - Police on the lookout for returning treasure hunters. Pics: Essex Police

TREASURE hunters were spotted magnet fishing in the ground of a 700-year-old manor house, sparking a warning and appeal from police.

A group were reportedly magnet fishing – the act of searching waters for magnetic objects, such as coins, to pull to the surface – in Southchurch Hall Gardens on Tuesday.

The area is a protected site and magnet fishing in the waters are illegal.

In response, Essex Police stepped up patrols on the five-acre grounds of the historic manor house.

Councillor Dan Nelson said: “These areas are not designated for magnet fishing. This is a historical site and must be treated with respect.

“These grounds form part of a museum and provides our residents an opportunity to learn about the storied history of the area, it is not a place for hobbyists and chancers.”

There are no laws banning magnet fishing in the UK, but hobbyists must check they have permission to fish the sites they want beforehand.

Mr Nelson added: “I really doubt there is any treasure at the bottom of that stream, but if there is it should be put in a museum and not found by some Indiana Jones type and sold to the highest bidder.

“It’s very strange behaviour and if they did find anything I hope they had the full intention of donating it to Southend’s museums where it would belong.”

Southchurch Hall is a medieval moated manor house and a grade 1 listed building.

The current hall was built around 1321 – 1364, and has a Tudor and a 1930s extension.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Patrols are being conducted by our Rural, Wildlife and Heritage Crime Officers at Southchurch Hall Gardens after reports of illegal magnet fishing occurring on the site.”

Historians believe the hall probably stands on the site of a much earlier Saxon hall.

Now used as a museum, which attracts 18,000 visitors per year, the site is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Paul Rabbitts, head of parks and open spaces at Southend Council, said: “Fishing is not allowed in Southchurch Hall Gardens, and magnet fishing is strictly forbidden. It is also a criminal offence to disrupt or damage a scheduled ancient monument either intentionally or through recklessness. This includes removal of objects found on-site, such as through using metal detectors or fishing. We work hard to preserve historically significant sites like this, and have spoken with Essex Police who are aware of these offences.”

Scheduling is Historic England’s oldest form of heritage protection, dating back to 1913.

A scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection under the law from unauthorised changes and incursions.

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