News - Digging for clues of the past (Southwell)

Mysterious earthworks in Southwell are set to be investigated by the town’s archaeological group.

Southwell Community Archaeology Group plans to work with Nottingham and Leicester universities and Nottinghamshire County Council to investigate the earthworks that encircle part of the town, including the Burgage.

They appear to follow Newark Road to the north then turn south and east, following Potwell Dyke, before returning to the west past the rear of Burgage Manor and Rainbows depot.

Currently nothing is known about the extent, age or purpose of the earthworks but experts believe they are not a natural feature.

Archaeology group chairman Mr John Lock said: “There has been a resurgence of interest in the origins of Southwell. In part no doubt caused by the ongoing discoveries on Church Street.

“Other exciting developments are proposed at the Archbishop’s Palace and National Trust workhouse.

“There has never been a better time for capitalising on and being part of this surge of community and professional engagement.”

Mr Lock said they could potentially be looking at Iron Age earthworks, which would pre-date the Roman settlement.

He said: “It might be that there is nothing there but let us put it to the test.”

The project will be in two parts. The first is establishing funding and research using maps and archive material.

The group then plans a detailed survey of the earthworks, a geophysical survey and digs in test pits to try to discover who built them and why.

Mr Lock said: “The objective is to identify the location and extent of the earthworks, establish their origins and purpose and throw light on their significance and relevance in the development of Southwell and its locality.”

Mr Lock hoped to involve the wider community in the project through community days.

The project is part of a wider investigation run by Nottingham University’s archaeology department, which is digging test pits around Southwell to try to discover more about its past.

More information about the project will be available at a talk organised by the archaeology group at the Old Court House on Saturday.

Rachel Hall, an archaeologist for the National Trust based at Clumber Park, will give a talk on National Trust archaeology in the East Midlands.

The presentation starts at 10am and admission is £2.50 for non-members of the archaeology group.

The former Church Street site of the Minster School is believed to contain Roman remains of national importance.

Experts believe it could have been the site of one of the largest Roman villas in the East Midlands or a temple and it was later used as a Saxon burial ground.

Medieval burials were recently discovered at Platts Orchard, just off Church Street, which could provide a continuous link in burials in the area from the Saxon period to modern times.

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Digging-for-clues-of-the-past

Save Roman Southwell - Once-in-a-lifetime chance for heritage

Roman remains in Southwell could be used for education and tourism if they are preserved, a group campaigning against development has claimed.

The Save Roman Southwell campaign wants to see the former Church Street site of the Minster School protected.

It is appealing for the site to be made a heritage area incorporating Southwell Minster, the Archbishop’s Palace and the prebendal houses on Church Street and Westgate.

Experts believe the remains site, later used as an Anglo Saxon cemetery, could provide the link between the Roman occupation of Southwell, the origins of Christianity in the town, and the building of the minster.

Mr Trevor Wight, of Save Roman Southwell, told the town council that the Roman remains were of significant archaeological importance and formed part of the historic core of the town.

He said: “We feel the historic core should be extended to create a tourist destination of local and national importance.

“What we envisage is a Roman heritage park including the archaeological remains linking with the other parts of the historic core.

“The building blocks are there because you have got the minster nearby with its own marketing and visitor guides.”

Mr Wight said they wanted the land returned to the community, which could preserve the remains and make the site usable before providing interpretation boards and a visual representation of the remains.

He said they then hoped to open the site up for archaeological investigation from experts and the community and finally create an educational facility and expose some of the remains, although this was likely to be very expensive.

Mr Wight said: “We have here a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and if we don’t take it now it will be gone.

“We have the opportunity to create a unique, attractive tourist centre on the site.

“We want to create a more complete package of tourism attractions and this has the potential not just to enhance tourism in Southwell, but tourism in Nottinghamshire.”

Caunton Properties Ltd has submitted plans for 29 homes on the site.

The plans have been delayed from going before Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee several times but it is believed they will be decided by Christmas.

The Save Roman Southwell campaign and Southwell Town Council are against the application.

A member of the campaign group, Mr Peter Kent, said English Heritage was still against making the site a Scheduled Ancient Monument, which would protect it from development.

He said the group believed the site had more surprises to reveal and, if development was allowed, the remains would be lost forever.

Caunton Properties Ltd has told the town council it is considering selling the land to an Irish syndicate regardless of the outcome of the planning application.

 

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Once-in-a-lifetime-chance-for-heritage