ANTIQUE smoking pipes that could date back to the 13th century have been dug up in a back garden in Orford.

Barry Kerwin made the discovery at the home that they have only recently moved in to.

His wife Diane said: “My husband was doing the garden and he came across some really, really old smoking pipes.

“I just thought they might be an old piece of stone but my husband said they were pipes – I cleaned them up and they were so we decided to find out more about them.

“We went on Facebook and we asked an antiques expert and he said they can go back to the 1200’s – I was shocked.

“We’ve not long since moved in so my husband was turning soil over – he found one a month ago and went out again the other day and came back in with another.”

The two pipes are decorated with a harp and crossbow, but Diane couldn’t manage to clean an antique coin that was also discovered in the makeshift archaeological dig.

The antiques expert told the Kerwins that they were Irish clay pipes from the 13th century that were used by sailors.

So could the pipes net Diane and Barry a big windfall?

“That’s what I’m hoping, the antiques dealer commented and said they’re definitely worth money.

“You never know do you?

“There could be more if we’ve found two pipes and an old coin.

“You never know, I might be a millionaire.”