A Good Start

Day one of our new project got off to a flying start, despite the site being on heavy clay with natural springs providing some improvised water features.

We uncovered about half of the outline, some internal walls and a little of the floor, of a building which we believe housed a steam powered pump, used to supply water to the hall from around 1890. What appears to be a well seems to be partially built in to one wall and this may have been from where the water was abstracted.

As often happens, unstratified finds which predate known features came to light, one of which was quite spectacular - a corner fragment from a glazed floor tile of fifteenth century date. This particular pattern is a known variety, recorded at the British Museum and the definitive reference work. Examples are known from Lilleshall Abbey, Much Wenlock Priory and Acton Burnell church, none of which are too distant from our site.

Our find at top, BM illustration at bottom left and extant example at Much Wenlock.

Pure speculation, but we're digging about 300m from a church which dates back as far as the 12th century; perhaps it had a new floor in the 1400s which was subsequently replaced...?

This promises to be a fascinating site, with a range of features covering at least the last three centuries.

New Project Getting Underway

 

We have a new project starting in the next few days, investigating the water supply to this grand country house and its once extensive and elaborate gardens. The sophisticated system incorporated a substantial natural spring, state-of-the-art pumps and a short canal leading to the edge of the gardens. A house has stood on the site since at least the 12th century and has been through several incarnations. The current hall is a rebuild of the Georgian house (following a fire during Victoria's reign) which was itself a rebuild of the medieval hall.

Our initial research has uncovered some interesting information. This extract from an account book mentions the very place we'll be investigating...

 

"𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟕𝟗𝟓 - 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥 (𝐬𝐢𝐜), 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫"

 

If and when we encounter a layer of puddling clay, we might be able to use this documentary evidence alongside any pottery and coin finds to put a date to it. Other information from this book pushes the date of our target back at least a century earlier than we originally expected ie around the 1750s.

Summer Festival

Once again this year we'll be taking part in the Council for British Archaeology's summer Festival and as this is the CBA's 80th anniversary, we plan to hold two events to celebrate. This year's theme is 'Archaeology and Community' and we're really looking forward to welcoming members of the public to our digs.

Despite a reduction in the number of archaeological and historical societies in recent years, we always find that interest in these events is as strong as ever. People of all ages are fascinated to connect with the past in their locality and seeing it literally coming to light before their eyes can have a powerful impact. As the CBA puts it:

"At its heart, archaeology is all about people and how we explore and interpret the past through the lens of the present day. Archaeology has the unique ability to bring people from all walks of life together through our shared sense of community – what it meant in the past, what it means to us now, and how we can shape our future."

As well as welcoming spectators and allowing children to enjoy short participation sessions, we'll be offering a limited number of volunteers the chance to have a full archaeology taster day at each event!

Our digs will each last for three or four days each during the Festival fortnight, which runs from 13th July. Details are being finalised and will be published here shortly.

Details of other events, including virtual events for those unable to attend in person, can be found at the CBA website.

 

New Year, New Hobby!

 

Do you enjoy history, are inquisitive and want to explore the past? Then come and join us! 

 

We carry out excavations, research, visit places of interest and hold monthly meetings. We've worked with Time Team, the National Trust, Sandwell Council, Dudley Council and landowners throughout the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Shropshire. 

 

Fancy trying your hand at excavation? Come along for a free taster session - no experience is required and all training and equipment will be provided.

 

If you're more interested in 'armchair archaeology', why not come along to one of our monthly meetings? Our next talk will be on Thursday 25th January when Dr George Nash, former lecturer at Bristol University, will give an illustrated talk on cave painting, entitled "Redecorating Prehistoric Shropshire and its Neighbours". The talk will commence at 7 pm in the Conference Suite at the City of Wolverhampton College’s Paget Road site. Entrance is free to members, £2.00 to non-members. Free parking is available on the students' car park at the rear of the college.