Event - Southwell Minster event showcases conservation skills

A unique one day event at Southwell Minster will offer visitors a rare chance to marvel at the work of a wide range of over 35 skilled specialists in building conservation.


With stalls and demonstrations in the nave, crossing and aisles and also live demonstrations in the Minster grounds on the north side of the Minster, the Historic Crafts Fair will include some exhibitors who have travelled many miles to give their time freely.

Sponsored by the Nottinghamshire Building Preservation Trust and contractors Woodhead Heritage, supported by the Dean and Chapter of Southwell Minster, the Nottingham and Southwell Diocese and by Nottinghamshire County Council Conservation Department, this Heritage Crafts Fair will showcase the work of experts ranging from the fine arts such as gilding and calligraphy to the work of the organbuilder, the blacksmith and one of only two bell foundries left in the country, Taylors of Loughborough.

All share a passion for traditional craftstmanship and the use of authentic materials. Building owners, contractors and the general public will find much to fascinate them, with help and advice freely available from the experts.

Tea and coffee are available in the Minster, and lunches in the Minster Refectory.

Entry is free, and the exhibition runs from 10 am. to 5 pm.

From: http://www.chad.co.uk/news/southwell-minster-event-showcases-conservation-skills-1-4526594

Save Roman Southwell - Eyesore site set for clean-up

A potential development site dubbed an eyesore after becoming overgrown looks set to be tidied.

 

Southwell Town Council and heritage groups have been campaigning for improvements to the appearance of the former Church Street site of The Minster School.

The site contains Roman remains believed to be of national importance, and a recent planning application for 29 homes there was rejected by Newark and Sherwood District Council.

Complaints about the site’s appearance began after hoardings were removed revealing its poor state.

At a meeting of the town council’s planning committee, the committee chairman, Mr Andy Gregory, said the developer would be working with Nottinghamshire County Council’s archaeology team to improve the site.

He said: “I’m very mindful that the developer is extending some sort of courtesy towards the town and although it’s taken a bit of time we are getting a result there.”

Mr Roger Dobson said he thought it was a move in the right direction.

He said: “Quite a lot of people have contacted me about the eyesore there and it’s good that not only are they considering tidying up the site, but also replacing the hoardings along the Church Street side, although I do accept there will have to be some sort of window so people can see what’s going on on site.”

Mr Dobson said he had concerns a JCB would be used on site and could damage the remains.

He said: “It’s fine as long as it’s monitored because the site has got archaeological remains there.

“I think we need to ask the county council to make sure that when they are using a JCB on the site they are there.”

Mr Dobson suggested the town council write to the county council expressing support for plans to tidy the site, but asking that all use of a digger be carefully monitored.

 

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Eyesore-site-set-for-clean-up

 

Save Roman Southwell - Housing next to Southwell Roman settlement site rejected

Proposals to build houses next to a Roman settlement site in Nottinghamshire have been rejected by councillors.

Caunton Properties Ltd submitted plans to build 29 properties on Church Street in Southwell.

Officers had recommended that Newark and Sherwood District Council should approve the application.

More than 3,000 people, including several high-profile academics, signed a petition against the development.

Southwell Town Council also objected to the plans.

'Rare remains'

The district council planning committee voted to refuse the application on 8 November on the grounds of design and density of houses proposed.

The site is next to what could be one of the largest Roman villas in the UK, according to Dr Will Bowden, an expert in Roman archaeology.

The University of Nottingham lecturer said the discovery of "rare" remains dating back to the 7th or 8th Century made the site "wholly inappropriate" for development.

Campaigner Peter Kent said he was "highly delighted" with the outcome of the planning meeting.

"We want to develop the entire area as a heritage park, tying in Southwell Minster and the Archbishop's Palace which already has lottery funding to develop as an area of outstanding heritage," he said.

Caunton Properties Ltd was unavailable for comment.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-15655165

Save Roman Southwell - Roman art rediscovered

Ornate Roman plaster, which is more than 1,000 years-old, has been rediscovered in Southwell Minster.

THE Dean of Southwell Minster, the Very Rev John Guille, and Dr Will Bowden, of Nottingham University, with the rediscovered plaster artwork. (051011MW1-2)

The painted plaster from the former Church Street site of the Minster School was excavated by Charles Daniels in 1959 when the first archaeological investigation of the site took place.

It was stored in the minster but forgotten about for decades until being rediscovered by Caroline Butler, the daughter of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Right Rev Paul Butler, in the minster’s triforium — the arches surrounding the nave and quire.

The plasterwork, which is assembled on three boards, is believed to be part of the ceiling of a cold bath house.

Another part of the ceiling, including a depiction of Cupid, has hung in the minster for many years.

The rediscovered plasterwork shows marine life such as fish and seaweed, and two figures believed to be the Greek hero, Hercules, and his lover, Hebe.

It is hoped the plasterwork will form part of an exhibition of Roman archaeology found in Southwell which will be held in the minster.

Dr Will Bowden, of Nottingham University’s archaeology department, said he knew of the existence of the lost plasterwork and was excited that it had been rediscovered.

He said: “The piece with the figures is of particular interest because it was believed to be two men but looking at it now it looks more like a man and a woman, which are likely to be Hercules and Hebe.

“It’s a very high-quality painting, which suggests it was a very high-status building so clearly emphasises the importance of the villa site itself.”

Dr Bowden said it was likely that more high-quality remains lay undiscovered.

He said there were still boxes of plaster found in the minster that needed reassembling, and other pieces.

It is believed the plasterwork was originally stored in the cellar of the Dean’s residence in the minster grounds before later being moved to the cathedral.

The Dean of Southwell Minster, the Very Rev John Guille, said: “I’m delighted to see that they have been rediscovered and I look forward to making them more available for public view.”

A member of Southwell Community Archaeology Group, Mr Peter Kent, said it was astonishing how good the plasterwork was.

He said: “If we’d known we’d have been up there to find them a long time ago.”

From:http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Roman-art-rediscovered

Event - 1,000 years of minster history (Southwell)

The day in November, 1711, when Southwell Minster was struck by lightning and the roof was destroyed is just one of the events charted in a history of the cathedral that is on display.

An exhibition, called Southwell Minster: Chapter, County And Country, tells the story of the governing body of the minster, known as the Chapter, and its relations with the local community and wider world.

The story is told through a series of illustrated panels covering more than 1,000 years, from the minster’s earliest beginnings as a Medieval collegiate church with its 16 prebendaries set up in 1291, through the turbulent years of the Reformation and up to the present day as the mother church of the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

The Dean, the Very Rev John Guille, said: “We are very excited to have this material on display.

“It will be fascinating for visitors to see how the history of the cathedral is interwoven with national events and characters from the past.”

The exhibition has been arranged by a small committee that has been researching and preparing the material for the past three years.

It also highlights buildings associated with the minster

The exhibition will run until July 11.

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/1000-years-of-minster-history

Video - Southwell garden dig unearths "very rare" Saxon remains

Hundreds of Roman and Saxon relics have been unearthed during an excavation of 25 gardens in Southwell.

Experts from the University of Nottingham spent two weeks digging one sq m (11 sq ft) test pits in the minster town to learn more about its Roman settlement and how it developed.

Finds included "very rare" Saxon remains which archaeologist Dr Chris King said might help explain Southwell's "missing" history between Roman villa and the medieval minster.

The team of scientists plan to return to Southwell in 2012 to continue the dig.

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-13810057

Event - Minster's past on show (Southwell)

Visitors can learn about the history of Southwell Minster in an exhibition that starts today and runs until July 11.

Southwell Minster: Chapter, County And Country tells the story of the governing body, known as the chapter, through illustrated panels covering more than a 1,000 years of history.

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Minsters-past-on-show

Event - Ancient versions of the bible to go on display at Southwell Minster

MORE than 50 ancient versions of the Bible are to go on display at Southwell Minster to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.

The special collection includes a 13th century vellum manuscript, originally from a Monastery in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, along with several other 16th century Bibles and two first edition copies of the King James Bible.

The King James version was the only one approved for use in the Church of England for nearly 300 years.

The Rev Canon Ed Pruen, the Minster's canon to education and learning, said: "The story of its ascent includes executions, protests, civil war and propaganda. Its importance today is partly the result of politics, colonisation and the slave trade."

The exhibition will be held from tomorrow until Friday, June 17. Visitors will also be able to explore the Historic Chapter Library, a collection of 1,200 rare books. There will also be a series of lectures.

For more information, contact the Minster Office on 01636 812649.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Ancient-versions-bible-display-Southwell-Minster/article-3558683-detail/article.html

News - Calls to protect 'rare' Roman Southwell

A university lecturer is calling for the rejection of a plan to build houses next to the site of a Roman settlement in Nottinghamshire.

Caunton Properties Ltd, who were unavailable for comment, want to create 29 homes on Church Street in Southwell.

Dr Will Bowden said the discovery of "rare" archaeological remains dating to the 7th or 8th Century made the site "wholly inappropriate" for development.

Newark and Sherwood District Council will consider the plan after 28 June.

The site is next to a scheduled monument - potentially one of the largest Roman villas in the UK, according to the University of Nottingham lecturer.

An investigation of the area the planning application covers found a Roman wall and archaeological remains.

'Incredibly rare'

English Heritage recommended that a substantial part of the redevelopment should remain as green space, with any remains preserved.

Dr Bowden and a number of academics, including the director of the Association for Roman Archaeology, Bryn Walters, and Revd Prof Martin Henig of Oxford University, said the English Heritage judgement does not go far enough.

"The discovery of remains, of probably Christian inhabitants, dating to the late 7th or 8th Century on the development site represents the period between the Roman villa and Minster," Dr Bowden said.

"Having this continual sequence of occupation - the villa, the burials and the Minster - is incredibly rare and arguably unique for a Roman villa in the UK."

He added: "There is something very unusual going on at Southwell, and it is potentially of a rarity that would make its partial excavation in a development context wholly inappropriate."

The academics have joined with several local history societies in an attempt to mobilise a mass campaign in support for keeping the remains in place.

Members of Southwell Town Council unanimously agreed to object to the plans and the council chairman Mr Roger Dobson called for residents to join the Save Roman Southwell campaign.

Campaigners would like to see the development site included in the town's central heritage area which includes the Minster, the Archbishop's palace and the villa itself.

"We can develop a strategy for researching and using the site to bring Roman Southwell to life for the citizens of Nottinghamshire," said Dr Bowden.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-13083692

News - Minster launches guide for visitors (Southwell)

HIDDEN carvings and secret treasures will be revealed in a new visitor's guide for Southwell Minster, which is launched next month.

The booklet offers visitors a detailed guide to lead them round the cathedral.

Some of the special features listed in the book include details on stained glass, such as the St Paulinus window and the stunning Angel window, hidden carvings in the Chapter House and on furniture around the Minster, and an ancient Roman mosaic that can be glimpsed between some medieval pews.

Dean of Southwell, the Very Reverend John Guille, said: "I'm very grateful to all the hard work Canon Nigel Coates has put into producing this guide, along with the cathedral visitor committee.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Minster-launches-guide-visitors/article-3473306-detail/article.html