Community archaeology - Excavation at Rufford

Nottinghamshire County Councils Community archaeology Team will be running a volunteer excavation at Rufford between 1st and 12th July this year (excluding weekends).  The first week will be run as a field school, and the second week will be a general volunteer dig.  No experience is necessary and spaces are very limited.  See below for more details.

Archaeological Field School - Mon 1st to Fri 5th July

 This week is ideal for people who want to get a proper introduction to professional excavation techniques.  They will be excavating the foundations of an ornamental gateway at the north end of the Broad Drive, near to the mill.  This is part of a project to preserve the remaining stonework with a view to potentially reinstating the ornamental gates.  The dig day will commence at 9.30am and finish at 4pm, with time for lunch in the middle.

If you wish to sign up to the field school you must be able to come for all 5 days.  If you have been on one of their field schools before you are welcome to come again, but priority will be given to people who haven't attended one of our Field Schools previously.

Volunteer Excavation - Mon 8th to Fri 12th July

This week is for anyone to join in with, although it may not be suitable for young children (please get in touch if you have children who would like to participate).  The excavation during this week will be looking at a disused water channel that may have a medieval origin.  They will also be looking at some of the former garden features to see if we can see evidence of their layout.  The dig day will commence at 9.30am and finish at 4pm, with time for lunch in the middle.

You can come for as many or as few days as you like.  No experience is necessary, and places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

If you have any questions, or would like to book on to either of the above activities, please get in touch at community.archaeology@nottscc.gov.uk or on 0115 969 6525. 

Please keep in mind that excavation is a physical activity, and they will not be doing post processing (pot washing etc) on site.  If you are interested in helping out with post processing activities, such as pot washing or data entry, please get in touch with them to see what opportunities we currently have.

News - Ambitious scheme to revamp Newstead Abbey

A GLOBAL organisation is spearheading an ambitious new bid to regenerate Newstead Abbey.

Representatives of the World Monument Fund (WMF) were among about 60 people who took part in a seminar at the abbey, which was Lord Byron’s ancestral home.

Founded in 1965, the WMF plays a major role in helping to restore important but ailing historic sites around the world.

The fund’s chief executive officer in Britain, Jonathan Foyle, said: “The necessary planning and relationship-building takes enormous work even to prepare for direct conservation. By its nature, this is an ongoing process.

“But the investment of time can enable beautiful buildings to be enjoyed by many people.

“Newstead Abbey already has a lot going for it but getting and maintaining support from the local community is absolutely vital.”

Coun David Trimble, the lead member for culture on Nottingham City Council, which owns the abbey, spoke during the first part of the seminar.

He said the major cuts suffered by the council in public funding had impacted on services right across the board.

A reduction in opening times at the abbey, which attracts Byron fans from many parts of the world, has proved highly controversial.

But Coun Trimble said: “I am confident we are doing all that can be done within our limited resources to maintain and improve the abbey.

“At the same time, it is a big step forward for the WMF to become involved. It is exactly right that this has happened.”

Talks followed on how the WMF has inspired spectacularly successful projects to restore the former Gorton Monastery in Manchester and Horace Walpole’s self-styled ‘little castle’ in Twickenham, London.

From:  http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/news/local-news/ambitious-scheme-to-revamp-newstead-abbey-1-5523994

News - County gives £1m to civil war centre (Newark)

A £1m contribution has been made by Nottinghamshire County Council to the new National Civil War Centre and museum to be built on Appletongate, Newark.

Mr Roger Jackson, Newark and Sherwood District Council’s cabinet member for leisure services, said: “The county council has always been interested in the museum project and has recognised the benefit it will bring to the whole county.”

A £3.2m Heritage Lottery grant has already been awarded towards the cost of the £5.4m project. Applications are being made to grant funding bodies to help meet the rest.

Tenders will be sought next month and are due to be awarded in June.

Building work should be completed by September, 2014, and it is anticipated that the museum will open on December 14, 2014.

The project will use the grade II listed Old Magnus buildings, including the Tudor Hall. They were used as a grammar school until 1922 when the site was sold to Newark Borough Council for a museum and education offices. They have been empty since 2005.

The single-storey museum building will be transformed into a National Civil War Centre (1642-1646) telling the story of how Newark residents coped as the Royalist town came under siege from the Parliamentarians.

Project manager Mrs Bryony Robins said: “We have a collection of our own but will also be loaning items from other museums. We hope the centre will become a springboard to other places where there is a focus on the Civil War.”

The Tudor Hall will be restored and left as an historic space that can be used for events such as concerts, theatre productions and weddings.

A mezzanine level will be installed where there will be a meeting room.

Two galleries have been allocated to tell the Newark story from prehistoric times to the present, which will mean a return of some of the items formerly in the Appletongate and Millgate museums.

One of the rooms will be used to display the Newark Torc, an Iron Age necklace found by Newark resident Mr Maurice Richardson with a metal detector. It is currently on loan to the British Museum.

Mrs Robins said there would be extra security to ensure the safety of the torc and other items.

A new glass-fronted building will be built to the left of the main building on a driveway between the museum and the Palace Theatre, which will be used as the entrance, with access to a lift for up to 14 people.

The top floor of the museum will be available for gallery space.

The Old Magnus Buildings will be open for public guided tours a week on Saturday ahead of its transformation.

Places must be booked on 01636 655733 or by emailing bryony.robins@nsdc.info

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/County-gives-1m-to-civil-war-centre-

News - Historic photo website reaches 100,000 milestone

The 100,000th historic photograph capturing yesteryear in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire has been added to the Picture the Past website this week.

The not-for-profit project also marked its tenth anniversary at Nottinghamshire County Council Archives on Wednesday evening. This photograph (Photo 1) of a Whit March in Arnold from 1890 was selected as the milestone image to be added to the website.

‘Picture the Past’ is a not-for-profit project, started in 2002, that aims to make historic images from the library, archives and museum collections across the whole of Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, available via a completely free-to-use website.

Initially funded for three years with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the scheme is now managed and funded by Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council.

There are photographs, postcards, engravings and paintings on the website showing how life has changed in the region over the last few hundred years giving a fascinating insight into the work and lives of the people who lived there.

The event was attended by guests including Coun John Cottee, Culture Committee Chairman for Nottinghamshire County Council, Picture the Past Chairman Robert Gent, representatives from the other local authorities and Professor John Beckett, in the Department of History at the University of Nottingham who is an expert in the history of the East Midlands. Professor Beckett gave a short speech about the importance of preserving historic images digitally.

Picture the Past’s Project Manager, Nick Tomlinson, said: “It is wonderful Picture The Past is now entering its second decade and the public interest continues year after year. Our web pages currently receive around 100,000 views a month.”

Coun John Cottee, Culture Committee Chairman for Nottinghamshire County Council said: “Picture the Past is a popular website and a fantastic resource which helps librarians and archivists to preserve pictures from our past in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

“As well as the photographs which are stocked in our collections, people contribute images which they find in attics and elsewhere to be digitised on our systems.”

Picture the Past’s offices were founded at Heanor Library in 2002, moving to the Record Office at Derbyshire County Council three years ago.

You can see all 100,000 images on the Picture the Past site by visiting: http://www.picturethepast.org.uk. For more details about events at Nottinghamshire Archives telephone: 0115 977 4401.
 

From: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/news/local-news/historic-photo-website-reaches-100-000-milestone-1-5417210?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Event - Segelocum Talk 2nd May (Retford)

If you are interested in coming along to learn more about the Roman town of Segelocum at Littleborough, you need to book asap as we have been assured that it will book up fast.

 

Details

Talk: Segelocum; grains of history

7pm, Retford Library, 2nd May

To book a place please call Retford Library on 01777 708 724.  There is a 50p charge to cover refreshments.

Event - Segelocum 2nd date added (Retford)

Retford Library have asked us to run the talk again on 17th April, at 7pm.  So if you have missed out on a space on the talk in February, make sure you get yourself booked on the one in April!  To book a place please call Retford Library on 01777 708 724.  There is a 50p charge to cover refreshments.

Talk - Segelocum (Retford)

Lorraine and Emily from Nottinghamshire County Councils Community Archaeology team will be giving a talk at Retford Library on the Roman town of Segelocum.  It's on the 27th Feb at 7pm and is open to all.

 

To book a place please call Retford Library on 01777 708 724.  There is a 50p charge to cover refreshments.

Community Archaeology - Graveyard Surveys - Cromwell

Nottinghamshire County Councils Community Archaeology team have organised another graveyard survey at Cromwell. They will be out at the graveyard between 10 am and 2.30 pm, on the 19th and 20th November. 


For those of you who haven't done graveyard survey before, it involves recording the text on gravestones, as well as their condition. It's very satisfying, and is really great information to help people who are researching their family history.

Toilets are available in the neighbouring village, inside Norwell church. There's also a coffee shop in Cromwell itself at the services by the A1. Some people like to bring a camping stool or blanket to sit on while recording the stones.

For further information please call the team on Tel: 0115 9696 525/Mob: 07917 212 554  or visit the website at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/communityarchaeology

Event - New Work in Nottinghamshire (Nottingham)

Wednesday 14 November 1pm - Djanogly Art Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD

Emily Gillott, Andy Gaunt and David Budge - Nottinghamshire County Council Community Archaelogy Team

The team discuss some of their latest projects with community volunteers including their current audit of archaeological sites along the River Trent between Newark and Gainsborough, and their hunt for the Great Fire of Mansfield Woodhouse in 1304.

Come and hear about how these discoveries are providing us with new information about the county. You can also handle objects from the excavations and find out about volunteering for future projects.

All talks take place in the Lecture Theatre next to the Museum at 1pm.

Admission FREE. Places are limited so please book in advance with the Box Office on 0115 846 7777

From: http://www.lakesidearts.org.uk/Exhibitions/ViewEvent.html?e=2070&c=5&d=2305

News - Decision due on Robin Hood visitor attraction

THE long-awaited transformation of Sherwood Forest will move a step closer on Wednesday (17th) with confirmation of the successful bidder for the project.


Nottinghamshire County Council has been considering two proposals for a new visitor attraction at the world-famous Robin Hood site and will seek approval from the policy committee on its preferred choice.

Both bidders are anonymous at this stage and no plans will be made public until the 10--day formal procurement process has been completed.

The new operator will design, fund, build and manage a new visitor centre attraction, which hopes to boost tourism by up to 150,000 visitors a year.

As previously reported in Chad, plans for a tree-themed design fell through after the project failed to win support from the Big Lottery Fund.

Last year, the county council decided to shelve the development until 2014 due to funding cuts.

The brief for the project is to create ‘a new visitor attraction which promotes and enhances the reputation of Sherwood Forest, the legend of Robin Hood and the broader history and heritage of Nottinghamshire’.

It will also create new jobs , boost local businesses and the wider local economy.

Coun John Cottee, chairman of the county council’s culture committee said: “Many months have already been spent on these proposals to reach this point which we hope will not only help us open a new attraction to captivate and enthuse visitors, but also to help preserve the natural ecology of Sherwood Forest and be a major boost for tourism and job creation locally.”

Members of the policy committee will be asked to approve the council’s recommendation at County Hall tomorrow.

Confirmation of the successful bidder means the council will then enter into legal agreements for them to manage the new development.

Coun Cottee added: “I know that there are a lot of people who are waiting to find out what will be happening at Sherwood and I’d like to reassure people that as soon as we have some information to share - we will.

“It’s worth adding that whatever the successful bidder designs, it will be subject to the usual consultation and planning processes.”

Celia Brooks, chairman of Edwinstowe Parish Council, thinks moving the centre closer to the village will benefit local businesses.

She said: “We need the right sort of attraction. We don’t want Disneyland.

“We are not worried about it being closer to the village as it may improve business.

“Improvements on the access road will need to be made.”

From: http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/decision-due-on-robin-hood-visitor-attraction-1-5032764

News - Diggers move on to site (Southwell)

Further archaeological investigation is taking place at a site in Southwell that is believed to contain Roman remains of national significance.


Work taking place on the Church Street site.There had been no activity on the former Minster School site on Church Street since a planning application for 29 homes was rejected.

But concerns were raised when heavy machinery, including JCBs, were spotted carrying out work.

The site is believed to contain the remains of a Roman villa and archaeologists hope it could provide the link between the Roman occupation of Southwell and the building of the minster.

Town councillor Mrs Sue Rodgers, a former member of Nottinghamshire County Council’s archaeology team, said the county council’s archaeologist Ursilla Spence was aware of the investigations taking place.

Mrs Rodgers said: “There are no worries about the archaeology on site. The work is further archaeological work being carried out, not building work.”

Mrs Rodgers said she had been liaising with the landowner, Caunton Properties Limited, and heritage groups to try to reach a compromise over the future of the site.

She said: “No one has come forward to say they are interested in a compromise so for the time being it is all on hold.”

Mr Peter Kent, a member of the Roman Heritage Park campaign group, which wants to see the site turned into a heritage park, said the group had concerns about the work taking place.

He said: “I have been approached by several people enquiring about what is happening.

“Ursilla Spence has assured me that it is all under control and the work is being carried out by Preconstruct Archaeology, which is a reputable firm.

“There have been a lot of rumours going around about the site.”

Mr Kent, also a member of Southwell Archaeology, said the group would like there to be more information available about work taking place.

He said: “Some of the treatment looks pretty brutal but it looks as if it is quite an extensive archaeological investigation.

“There is so much speculation there and that would be much better if the groups were involved.”
  From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Diggers-move-on-to-site

Article - Oldest RAF veteran meets memorial campaigners (Halam)

A 99 year old RAF veteran has given his seal of approval to a memorial erected to seven airmen killed in a plane crash in Nottinghamshire during World War Two.


The crew of a Lancaster bomber died in 1943 when their plane crashed in the village of Halam near Southwell. Last year a granite memorial was unveiled in their honour after two locals - Andrew Paris and Tony Denyer - campaigned for the crash site to be recognised. Relatives of the crew from Australia, Canada and the UK were present at the blessing.

Jim Flint is the oldest and most decorated surviving RAF war veteran and Bomber Command pilot. He flew 56 missions and became a Commanding Officer. During his career he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), the George Medal and the Aircraft Efficiency Medal (AE). Jim received the George Medal for bravery after his plane ditched in the sea off the coast of Norfolk. His navigator was trapped and Jim swam back to rescue him.

Today he spoke about the need to remember the war dead.“"There was many a mission I flew that I honestly didn't know if I would return home from. I lost so many dear friends during the Second World War and to have colleagues recognised with these special memorials is marvellous."

The memorial at Halam is one of a number of RAF crash sites that have been recognised by Nottinghamshire County Council through their Local Improvement Scheme. Over the last eight years the Council has spent around £500,000 to fund the restoration and creation of more than 35 war memorials across Nottinghamshire, including the village of Staunton near Newark, and Milton near Retford.

From: http://www.itv.com/news/central/2012-09-25/oldest-raf-veteran-meets-memorial-campaigners/

Event - Robin Hood Festival starts in Sherwood Forest (Clipstone)

Today marks the start of the Robin Hood Festival - an annual celebration of the UK's most famous outlaw.


The event will run for seven days and will take place in Nottingham's Sherwood Forest.

Award-winning street artists will perform 'Medieval' battles

The festival will showcase archery, falconry, jousting and medieval entertainment in the form of music, street performance, and adventure tales.

Timetable of activities:
Wednesday - Falconry 12.00 noon & 2pm, Jousting 2.30pm
Saturday - Falconry 12.00 noon & 2pm, Jousting 2.30pm
Sunday - Falconry 12.30 & 2.15pm, Jousting 3pm

The event is free and will take place at Sherwood Forest's Visitor Centre

Nottinghamshire County Council have organised the event, which is now in it's 28th year.

Things you might not know about the Legend of Robin Hood:

The earliest reference to Robin Hood was in 1377, in a poem by William Langland called "The vision of William concerning Piers Plowman". Other historical evidence places Robin anywhere between 1190 - 1307.

The longbow was Robin's weapon of choice, made from the English yew tree.

One legend says that Robin Hood was killed by his cousin, because she didn't want him to find out that she was having an affair. Another tale is that a monk murdered him, even though he'd been brought in to help.

From: http://www.itv.com/news/central/2012-08-13/robin-hood-festival-starts-in-sherwood-forest/

Event - Great Nottinghamshire Local History Fair (Mansfield)

In May 2013 the Nottinghamshire County Council Libraries Archives and Information Service is planning to host a new Local History fair at the refurbished Mansfield Central Library.

This will form part of the Nottinghamshire Ancestral Tourism Partnership Nottinghamshire Peoples programme

A whole floor of Mansfield Library will be given to the fair, and vital to the success of this new venture will be the participation of as many local history societies as possible.

They also hope to feature live demonstrations of local crafts, storytelling, talks and other local history presentations.

All in all th concil would aim to make the Great Nottinghamshire Local History Fair the premier showcase for local history in Nottinghamshire, where local societies will find a forum to showcase their work, attract new members, sell their publications, and share expertise with other groups.

The date they are initially proposing for the fair is Sunday 19th May 2013 (there being free parking on Sundays between 10am and 4pm at the Four Seasons shopping centre next to Mansfield library). If, however, you know that this date clashes with any other important local event, we would be grateful if you could let them know.

If you would like to find out more about our plans for the Great Nottinghamshire Local History Fair please reply to tim.warner@nottscc.gov.uk by 30th September 2012 and to ensure that further information, including how to book your place, is sent to you as soon as it is ready.

Event - Time Travel with a cast of thousands at Newark Castle

Thousands of people will have the chance to sample some living history at Newark Castle on july 28 when Romans, Saxons and more will be in action for the third and possibly final Time Travel Trent Vale event.


The family event attracts re-enactors from Roman, Saxon and Viking periods right through to World War II as well as featuring storytellers, a chance to explore normally closed castle rooms, storyteller Thor Ewing, medieval heritage and combat group Team Falchion, medieval music and much more.

Re-enactors include The Lone Legionary, English Civil War Camp and Conroi de Vey, a group of enthusiasts who re-create aspects of life in Nottinghamshire from around 1,000 years ago.

Nottinghamshire County Council Conservation Projects Officer Gill Grayson, organising the Heritage Lottery-funded event on behalf of the Trent Vale Partnership, said: “The re-enactors interact with the crowds and put on displays in the arena as well, so you might hear English Civil War muskets firing at some point!”

The first Time Travel event in 2010 attracted around 3,000 people and about 4,000 attended last year. Gill says this year’s event could be more popular than ever: “We took on board the feedback we had last year that people wanted more children’s activities, so we’ve got a lot more children’s activities this year.”

These include face painting and children’s craft activities. There will be talks, demonstrations and displays by local history groups too. “It’s about getting people to find out about the heritage of the Trent and the villages and towns along it,” said Gill.

Volunteers are also wanted to help with the running or stewarding of the event, including people willing to conduct tours of the castle, and drama students willing “to be left to rot in a damp and dingy dungeon.” Give the team a call on 0115 969 6525 if you are interested in helping.

But what promises to be the best Time Travel event yet at Newark Castle could also be the last: “This is probably the final year unless we can find someone who will take on the organising of it. It doesn’t cost a lot of money to put on but that money has to be found from somewhere,” said Gill.

From: http://www.newarknotts.co.uk/time-travel-with-a-cast-of-thousands-at-newark-castle/

Talk - Sturton On a Roman Road to Nowhere? (Sturton-le-Steeple)

Wednesday 4th July, 7pm at Sturton Village Hall, in the conference room.


Emily from NNC Coummunity Archaeology and her colleague Lorraine will first present a talk on Sturton le Steeple. This will look at what they know about the development of the village, its possible relationship to the Roman town of Segelocum, and how the area fits in to the national Roman picture. The aim of the evening is to hopefully get moving on a potential archaeological project in the village, looking for the Roman road and clues to the village's origins.

After the talk they will look at identifying plots of land where people might be happy to have a small test pit, and land which could be field walked or subject to geophysics, or other archaeological investigation. They will also take down the names of people interested in helping out with any digging or fieldwalking.

Lastly they will be doing our best to identify any finds that people bring along. We know very little about Sturton and the surrounding area, and hopefully by plotting on a map where people have found different things we can start to build up a proper picture.

For more information on Community Archaeology visit: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/communityarchaeology
www.facebook.com/communityarchaeology

News - Town trails for curious people (Newark)

Two new Heritage Trails have been launched by Newark Civic Trust, completing a series of eight.

The Victorian Trail and the Curiosities Trail are the latest in a series of trust leaflets that chart the heritage and historical significance of some of Newark’s best-known landmarks, buildings and people. The popular Historic Riverside Trail has also been revised.

The latest trails have been paid for by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme, Newark Town Partnership and the Trent Vale Landscape Partnership.

The Victorian trail looks at how Newark gained from the arrival of the railways and how the dependence on agriculture diminished. It also looks at the impact of increased manufacturing and the rapid increase in population.

Buildings earmarked along the trail include the Gilstrap Centre, built as a library, and the Buttermarket Shopping Centre, which opened as the New Market Hall in 1884.

The trail also includes the former Warwicks and Richardsons Brewery offices on Northgate and the Ossington Coffee Palace on Beastmarket Hill, which has a sundial on the south wall with the motto Delay Not, Time Flies.

The Curiosities Trail features more unusual facts about the town such as Newark’s thinnest house, the double row of brass studs in the Market Place marking the Alderman’s Walk, and the controversial Jubilee Arch commissioned by the town council to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.

The trail also takes walkers to Cuckstool Wharf by the riverside and the site of the town’s cuckstool or ducking stool, a Medieval punishment usually reserved for women, who were strapped into a chair, swung over the river and ducked. It was last used in 1801.

Newark county councillor Mr Keith Girling, who supported the application for funding, said: “These trails are a wonderful asset both for local people and visitors. Every time I read one I pick up new facts.”

The trails were written by the trust’s acting chairman, Mr George Wilkinson, secretary Mr Rupert Vinnicombe and committee member Mr Mick Gill.

Mr Wilkinson said: “These trails are a wonderful promotion of Newark’s history and heritage.

“The trust is very grateful to the organisations who have helped with the funding.”

Copies of the leaflets are available from the Tourist Information Centre in the Gilstrap Centre, Newark Library, Ann et Vin, Millgate Museum and Newark Town Hall.

Mr Vinnicombe said the trust was always looking for new members to help with its work to safeguard Newark’s heritage.

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Town-trails-for-curious-people

Community archaeology - June to July (Nottinghamshire)

Here are some of the upcoming activities on the horizon. They're mostly graveyard surveys, and if the weather stays like this they should be glorious days to be recording gravestones! If you've not been on any of these before check out the 'See what we do' section on their website, where they have pictures of previous activities.


June
11th, 12th, 13th - Graveyard survey at Norwell church. 10am to 3pm.

14th, 15th, 18th, 19th, 22nd - Graveyard survey at North & South Clifton church. (This is just one church! It is located directly in-between the villages of North Clifton and South Clifton). 10am to 3pm.

27th, 28th, 29th - Graveyard survey at Cromwell church. 10am to 3pm.

July
3rd - Riverside audit walk at Marton (Lincolnshire)

12th - Riverside audit walk at West Stockwith

If you're interested in coming along to any of the above dates please let them know and they can send you more details. For all activities please make sure you wear appropriate clothing for outdoor work. For the graveyard surveys some people like to bring a cushion/rug/folding stool to sit on. No experience is necessary and we will provide equipment and training. For more details visit their website at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/communityarchaeology or phone them on 0115 9696 525

Event - Community Archaeology at Water Mill (Papplewick)

On Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th and Friday 18th May Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Archaeology team will be surveying the remains of a water mill sluice and leet system that powered mills along the River Leen at Papplewick in the 18th century.


The earthworks are at Moorpond Wood- the entrance to which is from the road between Linby and Papplewick.

The water system is of great importance and was owned and created by the Robinsons who were friends of Arkwright who built his mills at Cromford in Derbyshire.

The Cromford Mills are a world heritage site, and so these mills (dating from a similar time, but having gone out of use earlier) are of possible international significance.

They will be mapping the site using an EDM Total Station, to create a map and 3D model.

If you wish to join in please contact them at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/communityarchaeology

News - Medieval lengthsman pilot in Nottinghamshire

The medieval role of lengthsman is to be revived in Nottinghamshire.


Under a pilot project a cluster of villages and towns would share a lengthsman - essentially an odd job man or woman for the community.

The role, which historically required someone to keep ditches and drains clear, would include tasks such as grass cutting and clearing snow.

Nottinghamshire County Council said if the pilot was successful up to 40 jobs could be created.

The pilot scheme has received £54,000 from the authority and will run from June until next April, with evaluation taking place in December.

The position dates back to the medieval era when parish councils employed men to maintain an area or length of road.

The post died out in the late 1880s when road maintenance became the responsibility of county councils.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-17983982