Event - Exploring Tinsley Manor (Tinsley)

ver the next three years Heeley Farm will work with Tinsley Junior School, Wessex Archaeology, community organisations and local volunteers to investigate the fascinating history of the Tinsely Manor House, possibly buried underneath the school field. The project will be based at Tinsley Junior School where the whole school will work with professional archaeologists and artists to discover and interpret the history of the Manor House itself

There will also be a strong community element as the project will train local volunteers to research the Manor and its environs, as well as its place within the history of the wider area.

The Manor House was built in the 11^th or 12^th century, it was the residence of the local lords and surrounded by a park and woods covering 413 acres. The Manor was rebuilt in the 14^th or 15^th Century, possibly by the de Tyneslaw family. Tinsley was an important part of the 18^th and 19^th century industrialisation of Sheffield. As a result the area became heavily populated and soon needed more public services. In the early 1960’s the old Manor house, which by this time had become a farm, was demolished to enable the construction of Tinsley Junior School. This event within living memory will be the basis of the oral history aspect of the project.

Nothing of the Manor House survives above ground so the project will begin with opportunities for archival research and geophysical survey to map the underground remains in preparation for small scale excavation later in the year.

The project will be officially launched at an event at Tinsley Junior School on Monday the 11^th of February.  If you would like to attend this free short event please RSVP before the 8^th of February.

The launch is just the beginning of this exciting new project; there will be lots of opportunities to get involved as the project progresses.

 If you would like to attend the launch or would like to get involved in any way – especially if you remember the farm buildings! If you would like to meet the project team or would just like to know more about the project please get in touch.

Best wishes

Sally

Sally Rodgers

Exploring Tinsley Manor

Project Officer

Heeley City Farm

Richards Road

Sheffield S2 3DT

07932867750

0114 2580482

youngroots@heeleyfarm.org.uk

Via  SCHF

Website - Sheffield Community Heritage Forum

Sheffield Community Heritage Forum have now set up their own blogsite for the latest developments in the local history around Sheffield.  They will also be posting important news and events on the blogsite in addition to photos of Sheffield’s fantastic heritage community.

 They meet quarterly and meetings are open to everyone and anyone interested in finding out more about the heritage activity happening in Sheffield and its surroundings.


If you are not already a member of the mailing list, please contact schf@sheffield.ac.uk to begin receiving all information and updates on events and projects happening in Sheffield’s cultural and heritage environment. You can also send your own promotional or informative material to the address from where it will be circulated amongst members.

To contribute blog posts or photos to the site, please don’t hesitate to contact the administrator on the email above.

Blogsite at http://schf.wordpress.com/

News - Roundhouse nears finish after arson (Heeley)

AN ARSON-hit archaeology experiment to create an Iron Age-style structure is nearing completion after a Sheffield community chipped in.


Residents and youngsters helped to paint the walls of Heeley City Farm’s reconstructed Roundhouse - which had its roof burned deliberately in a blaze in 2010 - over the weekend.

It takes the experiment a step closer to being finished, with only the roof now left to work on.

But weeks of downpours have been a setback in the scheme’s progress this year.

Sally Rodgers, community heritage officer at the farm, said it had taken longer than planned to reach this point.

She added: “It was upsetting when the fire happened but then these are the kinds of problems people would have faced in the Iron Age!

“We’ve worked really hard to repair the damage and, considering it is in an open space, there hasn’t been much damage, only the fire.

“Over the weekend the walls were painted using different natural techniques like coloured clays and ground wood.

“It still needs some work on the roof but we are hoping it will be completed this year.”

But the aim of the roundhouse, which started in 2009, is not really about it being used as a complete structure.

The farm and Sheffield University began the scheme to help learn about how things were done by Iron Age man, how people worked and what it was like to live.

On Saturday and Sunday volunteers got messy with paint, even creating Celtic designs with their brushes on the roundhouse walls.

Museum Sheffield plus Sheffield Young Archaeologists offered support and artists also showed their skills in metalworking and basket weaving demonstrations.

Sally added: “We’ve had masses of help from lots of community groups who volunteered their time to help to get the walls repaired and to get the roof structure stable again.”

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/roundhouse-nears-finish-after-arson-1-4743606

News - Transported back in time down at the Sheffield farm

YOUNGSTERS dug out their wellies and got messy as they were taken back to the Iron Age at a Sheffield farm.


Children and volunteers have been helping out with Heeley City Farm’s long-running roundhouse reconstruction project at a special open day.

Sally Rodgers, farm community heritage officer, said: “We have been making and daubing the walls – everyone enjoyed themselves and most importantly we all got very muddy.”

“The children have been using ancient techniques to create Sheffield’s first roundhouse since the Iron Age.”

Work on the world’s first multi-purpose roundhouse, which has hosted both an Easter egg hunt and Santa Claus, begain in August 2008. It has no set completion date.

Sally said: “Our aim is to get as many people as possible involved in some hands-on heritage.

“These open days are open to everyone – families, volunteers and the general public.”

It is part of a Lottery-funded scheme, Digging Our Roots, which is designed to encourage young people to explore Sheffield’s farming history.

The eco-friendly farm will be hosting another roundhouse event in June when the inside of the building will be painted and decorated.

The site will then be used as an outdoor classroom and experimental archaeology centre for university students when it is eventually completed.

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/transported-back-in-time-down-at-the-sheffield-farm-1-4453605

Events - Hunter’s Sheffield Visits (Sheffield)

The Hunter Archaeological Society are organising three visits around Sheffield on Sunday 13th May 2012 to celebrate their centenary. An excursion showcases three current community archaeology projects, while two guided walks look at places connected with the antiquarian Joseph Hunter, from who the Society takes its name.

There are three guided walks and excursions to choose from:

1. Coach excursion to visit three very active community projects in the Sheffield area – Manor Lodge, Heeley City Farm and Wincobank. This will leave Paternoster Row outside the Showroom Cinema at 10am and return to the same point at 4 - 4.30pm. Lunch will be available at Heeley City Farm at a cost of £5 per head.

2. Guided walk around the non-conformist landscape of Sheffield led by Pat Wagner, leaving the junction of Glossop Road and Clarkehouse Road at 10am, lasting around 2 hours. This will visit the Wesleyan College, the Botanical Gardens and the General Cemetery.

3. Guided walk around Sheffield city centre circa 1800, looking at sites particularly connected with Joseph Hunter, led by Ruth Morgan. This will leave from in front of Sheffield Town Hall on Pinstone Street at 2pm and last around 2 hours.

To book a place pleaser contact Ruth Morgan, Hon Secretary, Royd Farm, Carr Road, Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2NR, tel 0114 288 2640, email secretary@hunterarchaeologicalsociety.org.uk. Booking forms are also available on web www.hunterarchaeologicalsociety.org.uk

All are FREE.

News - Digability! - Yorkshire and Humber reaches out with region-wide archaeology projects

A major new archaeology project, starting in October 2011, has been awarded £200,000* by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

To be run by the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA), the three year region-wide initiative has been launched in time for Disability History Month in November, and will enable 300 people who would not usually be given the chance to take part in an archaeology dig the chance to get out in the field, learn new skills and have fun uncovering Yorkshire’s fascinating historic past.

The scheme will target a variety of groups including adults with learning difficulties, mental health issues, and physical disabilities as well as those from underrepresented ethnic minority communities from across Yorkshire and the Humber. Sites expected to take part include:

• Sheffield Manor Lodge
• The Iron Age Roundhouse at Heeley City Farm, Sheffield
• Romano-British settlements in Chapel House Wood, Wharfedale
• Medieval field systems in North Killingholme near the Humber
• Conisbrough Castle, South Yorkshire

Fiona Spiers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “This is a fantastic and wide-reaching scheme that aims to improve access to archaeology projects for underrepresented groups. There is a myriad of benefits to be gained from getting involved in archaeology from strengthening communities to learning new skills, learning how to be part of a team to helping to uncover Yorkshire’s rich history for future generations.“

This important scheme has been developed to meet the needs identified by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) statement that it is vital work is done ‘to develop more positive action to challenge the perceptual, social or economic barriers that tend to exclude disabled people, ethnic minorities and people from economically and socially deprived areas from direct engagement in archaeology.’

Rob Hindle, Project Manager, WEA, explained further how the project will benefit people: “Heritage is a collective historical legacy: shaped by the totality of people inhabiting the region throughout its history, it belongs to everyone, whatever their background, experience or circumstances. This project will provide an opportunity to demonstrate that everyone can play a role in its interpretation, celebration and conservation.”

Entitled the Inclusive Archaeology Education Project the WEA initiative will involve 1,200 hours of classroom and outdoor teaching over three years. The project will start with an introduction to archaeology through practical, hands-on tasks and visits to heritage sites locally, followed by field-based activities at identified archaeological sites.

Engaging learners through a range of innovative activities including ‘a history of ourselves in 300 objects’ (inspired by the BBC Radio series ‘A History of the World in 100 objects’), the scheme will offer participants the chance to develop key skills such as object handling and identification, using photographs, surveying and mapping, scale drawing, test pitting, finds processing and analysis, and group presentation.

The project will also offer local university archaeology students the opportunity to undertake the WEA taught City and Guilds qualification, ‘Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector’ and to undergo additional training related to the participants needs.

Notes to editors

* The HLF grant to the project Inclusive Archaeology Project is for £200,000 (95% of project costs) and is a second-round pass, which means it is a confirmed award.

Disabilty History Month
For more information please visit the Disability History Month website.

Further information
HLF Press Office: Vicky Wilford, vickyw@hlf.org.uk, 020 7591 6046
WEA: Rob Hindle, rhindle@wea.org.uk, 07966 588 640 / 0114 232 2714

From: http://www.hlf.org.uk/news/Pages/Digability.aspx

News - Nick sees pupils’ prehistoric project (Millhouses)

SHEFFIELD Hallam MP Nick Clegg was given an insight into a prehistoric project at a city school which has seen the creation of a replica Iron Age round house.


The Lib Dem leader was at St Wilfrid’s RC Primary in Millhouses to officially open the house, constructed with the help of volunteers from Heeley City Farm and Sheffield University.

The round house is already being used by youngsters as an outdoor classroom for their environmental studies - although currently lighting is an issue as the structure has no windows!

“We’re looking at installing small solar-powered lights so the atmosphere of the round house is maintained,” said headteacher Barbara Jarrett.

“The work was only just completed before Nick arrived but he was very impressed with what he saw - he said they didn’t do things like this when he was at school.”

The Deputy Prime Minster also saw smelting work with a craftsman creating an iron hinge for the house’s door.

“It’s been a brilliant project and we are expanding our environmental work with our refurbished school pond and a forest school project,” Barbara added.

Every child in the school was involved in the building work - getting messy creating daub for the walls from clay, straw, water and sand.

The mixture was later spread on the woven willow walls by hand, with help from university archaeology students.

The building work began last February and tied in with classroom work on the whole Iron Age era.


Pupils also worked with heritage officers from Heeley City Farm and university lecturers on a host of activities, including handling genuine archaeological artefacts.

Youngsters also visited the Iron Age hill fort at Wincobank and harvested materials for the construction work.

Sheffield University lecturer Dr Roger Doonan said: “The pupils really enjoyed the project as it was fun but also formed part of an important research project with the work of the pupils contributing to our understanding of life in the Iron Age.

“Their enthusiasm and interest was incredibly impressive and I was asked questions by nine-year-old pupils which would not have been out of place at a professional conference.”

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/nick_sees_pupils_prehistoric_project_1_3811478

Dig - Woods’ past investigated (Cawthorne Woods, Barnsley)

A CHANCE to explore South Yorkshire’s medieval past is being offered to amateur archaeologists thanks to a new project starting this week.

The event gives the public an opportunity to discover the history of the medieval working landscape now hidden within Cawthorne Woods, near Barnsley.

The two-week event is being organised by Woodland Outreach Learning Foundation, Heeley City Farm and the University of Sheffield’s Department of Archaeology.

It is known the site hides mining features, slag heaps and other evidence of iron smelting – the process used to turn iron ore into iron and steel for weapons, tools and other artefacts.

It is hoped that surveying the site with the help of the public will reveal greater insights into the area during medieval times and provide the community with a connection to their local heritage.

Dr Roger Doonan, from the Department of Archaeology, said: “Preserved there amongst some beautiful woodland are traces of a previous industrial landscape.

“It wouldn’t have been belching chimney stacks and satanic mills, but rather small groups of people working away at local ore deposits and bringing about the magical transformation of stone to metal.

Sally Rodgers from Heeley City Farm said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to investigate the historic woodland.

“Together with local volunteers we hope to make some new discoveries about how people were working here during the medieval period.”

Lindsey Bielby, from WOLF, added: “The surveying is really trying to link community with local history, so finding out what happened in Cawthorne Woods many centuries ago becomes a joint venture between professionals and the public.

“The public will learn survey and archaeology skills and the archaeologists will collect data and interpret the information.”

To book call Lindsey Bielby on 07738156217 or email lindsey_bielby@talk21.co.uk

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/woods_past_investigated_1_3702717

News - Amateur diggers discover the realities of Victorian living (Sheffield)

AMATEUR archaeologists who have joined a dig on the site of a city farm have helped uncover what life was like in the area a century ago.

When Queen Victoria was on the throne, several streets around Heeley City Farm in Sheffield were home to families who worked in local factories.

The terrace houses were demolished in the 1970s but locals who have been taking part in the dig have discovered some of the artefacts that were left behind.

Dr Roger Doonan, of the department of archaeology at Sheffield University, has helped the volunteers, many of whom have never been involved in archaeology before.

He said: “The real thrust of the project is to find out about what people did in their back yards and gardens a century ago.

“We have found the foundations of the houses, and the outhouses, and beneath the 1978 demolition layer there are some interesting artefacts.”

Dr Doonan said pieces of oyster shell and bone which were probably offcuts from cutlery works had been found, which appeared to be evidence of a cottage industry.

He added: “It was probably waste which husbands brought home from the factories and foundries, which wives worked into buttons for clothing - not just for themselves but to sell.

From: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/amateur_diggers_discover_the_realities_of_victorian_living_1_3613026