A TINY corner of Angus is slowly giving up some of its buried treasures and secrets thanks to the dogged determination of heritage enthusiasts.

A crop of coins, medieval pottery and flint have been among a rich harvest gathered from two field-walking trips at Kirkton of Kinnettles, near Forfar.

The outings have been hailed a success by Kinnettles and District Heritage Group, which has been combing the area to uncover some clues to its history.

This year’s efforts have concentrated on the site of the now lost West Mains of Kinnettles, which the group believes was built in 1678.

Group members have been joined by increasing numbers of curious volunteers, as well as metal detector groups, keen to take part in digging up ancient artefacts.

It was technology that led James Whyte to what turned out to be a Robert II silver penny minted in Perth between 1371 and 1390.

That find joined an Edward I of England silver penny found on the surface of the ploughed soil by Caroline Odell, from Brechin.

Dave Walsh, heritage group spokesman, said it was minted during his reign (1272-1307) and is often referred to as a long cross coin, owing to markings on it.

“Such coins were commonly in use in Scotland at that time and later and, because they were made of silver, bits could be clipped off to pay for goods,” Mr Walsh explained yesterday.

“They were possibly spoils of the wars between England and Scotland in Edward Longshanks’ time.”

Other items given up by the ground have also included worked flint tools, pottery fragments, a crooked sixpence and a decorated shoe buckle.

One which was of particular interest to the group was a personalised identity plaque from a wine or port bottle. Mr Walsh said it was for John Harvey of Kinnettles, who was almost certainly either John Inglis Harvey or his father John Aberdein Harvey.

The latter, a schoolmaster’s son, bought the estate of Kinnettles from the trustees of Alexander Bower in 1802, having made his fortune in the plantations of the West Indies.

“He built a fine house, though not the present Kinnettles House, and established some of the woodlands on Kinnettles or Brigton Hill,” Mr Walsh added.

He also built the present picturesque Kirkton village.