Events

Archaeology Open Day - Rochester

Karen Nichols — Mon, 11 May 2015 08:39:25 +0000

Wessex Archaeology London & South East will be holding an Open Day on

Saturday 4 July 2015,

between 11am and 3pm.

Come along and experience what it is like to be a real archaeologist and see what goes on behind the scenes! There is no need to book and the open day is free of charge. Follow the link to our flyer for more information or contact Marie Kelleher at m.kelleher@wessexarch.co.uk

By Marie Kelleher

Download the flyer from this link

Events

The Maritime Archaeology of the Dover Barrage

Karen Nichols — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 13:32:25 +0000

Multibeam Swath Bathymetry of the UB 109

Graham Scott of Wessex Archaeology will talk about recent English Heritage investigations of First World War U-boat wrecks, carried out with members of Canterbury Divers and Folkestone 501

All Welcome

Wednesday 14 January 2014 8pm

Folkestone Yacht & Motor Club

North Street, Folkestone, CT19 6AF

Image crown copyright, courtesy of Swath Services

Events

We Die Like Brothers

Karen Nichols — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:20:21 +0000

Lying beneath the waves to the south of the Isle of Wight is the wreck of the Mendi , a Liverpool steamship which sank in 1917 with the loss of over 600 lives.

Most of the dead were men of the South African Native Labour Corps on their way to France to support Allied troops on the Western Front.

The loss was quickly forgotten in war weary Britain and suppressed in South Africa during white rule. Nearly 100 years later, the sacrifice made by the men on board has emerged to become a South African icon of equality, hope and reconciliation.

On Wednesday 10 December 2014, Coastal & Marine’s Graham Scott will be telling the story of the Mendi, and explaining how the archaeology of the wreck is now being used by the South African National War Memorial to honour and tell the story of the men on board.

The talk starts at 17.30 at the Centre for Maritime Archaeology, Building 65 B, Avenue Campus, Southampton University (SO17 1BF), and all are welcome.

Events

Barrow Clump Open Day

Karen Nichols — Mon, 19 May 2014 12:58:42 +0000

As part of the Festival of Archaeology this summer, discover the amazing archaeology at Barrow Clump, a Bronze Age burial mound and Saxon cemetery being excavated by injured Service personnel and veterans as part of Operation Nightingale.

Free entry

Saturday 19th July 2014

11am - 4pm

No need to book, all ages welcome

Witness the archaeological excavation
Come face to face with Saxon warriors
Handle replica Saxon artefacts with Wiltshire Museum
Meet Channel 4's Time Team favourite Phil Harding
Take part in activities for the whole family
Plus lots more to see, do and discover!

For more details contact Laura Joyner

How to find us

Drive north on the A345 from the Amesbury junction of the A303, crossing one roundabout. Turn right at the 'C' tank crossing and follow signs to the parking area. Please note that the site is a 15-minute walk from the parking area. Limited spaces are available at the site for those with walking difficulties.

Events

Prehistoric Half Term Club

Karen Nichols — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 08:26:56 +0000

Are you looking for something fun to do this half term?

Then look no further than the prehistoric half term club at the Beeches Community Centre in Bulford. Come and join the team and take part in games, bush craft activities, Stone Age cookery and much more!

This club is for children aged 7-11
and is completely FREE.
It will run from 10am-12pm on:

Monday 28th October

Tuesday 29th October

Wednesday 30th October

If you have any questions, or to book a place for your child, please contact Amy Pugh, from the Army Welfare Service, on 07785 357065. Early booking is advisable.

This innovative and fun event is being organised by the Army Welfare Service, English Heritage and Wessex Archaeology.

Events

Bulford Now and Then

Karen Nichols — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 07:30:47 +0000

This Autumn, 8-12 year olds are invited to explore the history of Bulford and tread in the footsteps of people from the past.

The Bulford Now and Then project will recreate archive photographs taken in the 1970s to see how the town has developed over the last 40 years. Meetings will take place on:

Saturday 19th October 10.30am-12pm

Saturday 9th November 10.30am-12pm

Saturday 7th December 10.30am-12pm

All sessions are free and you do not need to be able to attend all sessions to take part. We will be meeting at the Beeches Community Centre (Bulford Road, SP4 9BT) and walking to the locations, so please wrap up warm!

For more information please contact Laura Joyner on
l.joyner@wessexarch.co.uk or 01722 326867.

This project has been organised in association with the Army Welfare Service and kindly funded by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Events

Tinsley Manor

Karen Nichols — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 08:15:17 +0000

Preparations are underway for the second year of the Tinsley Manor Project, a three-year Heritage Lottery Funded ‘Your Heritage’ project being undertaken by Wessex Archaeology’s Sheffield team in partnership with Heeley City Farm and Tinsley Junior School. The education and community project is investigating the possibility that the remains of a medieval manor house may survive beneath the school. The ‘Old Manor House’ farm was demolished in the 1960s to make way for the school.

The first season has been a great success with the children many of whom are learning English as a second language and learning about archaeology for the first time. They have explored the history of the local area, taken part in archive research, map regression, geophysical survey, test-trenching and finds processing. The project is also engaging the community through a new volunteer group focusing on archival research and collating oral histories, but also training in survey techniques. The local history society, church coffee morning group, local library and community forum have been spreading the word, collecting old photographs and memories.

At the end of the summer term four trenches were located on the school playing fields in relation to the results of map regression and resistivity survey and three revealed stone and brick foundations and surfaces. The Year 5s converted their classroom into a site hut for the duration of the fieldwork. The site was open to the whole school community and visitors included the local history group, parents, school governors, the local press and the Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts who called in to check on progress. Finds recovered from the trenches included a sherd of medieval 12th to 15th century pottery along with post-medieval pottery, clay tobacco pipe, glass, brick, slate and animal bone.

Wessex Senior Project Manager Richard O’Neill will be talking about the Tinsley project at a forthcoming ‘Archaeology in Partnership’ workshop at Sheffield’s Weston Park Museum on 22th October.

Events

20,000 leagues under the Solent

Karen Nichols — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:34:03 +0000

Last week our Community & Education Officer, Laura Joyner, travelled to Gosport for the 20,000 Leagues under the Solent event at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.

The event was organised as part of the museum’s Sammy Sardine Summer School and provided an insight into the underwater world of diving and marine archaeology. Our display featured a variety of mystery marine artefacts, our latest Dredged Up magazine and a make-your-own-boat activity sheets. The day proved popular with both children and parents alike!

Find out about future archaeology events like this one by following us on Twitter (@wessexarch) or liking us on Facebook.

Events

Archaeology Open Day at Cannington Court

Karen Nichols — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 13:05:47 +0000

Artefacts on display

Archaeological excavations at Cannington Court, Somerset were opened up to the public last week for a unique ‘behind the scenes’ viewing. Local residents were invited to see the excavation area and artefacts, whilst Wessex Archaeology staff were on hand to provide information and answer questions.

Sponsored and organised by EDF Energy, the open afternoon came at the end of a five-week excavation on the site of Cannington Court, originally a 12^thcentury Benedictine priory. Archaeological work, carried out by Wessex Archaeology, revealed several medieval features including wall foundations, two lined culverts and a cobbled floor surface. These features may be contemporary with the original priory, although dating evidence was very limited with only one sherd of 10-12^th century pottery found.

EDF Energy are sensitively refurbishing the historic buildings to produce a state of the art training centre for their staff. Find out more about the Cannington Court development here.

Events

Piece of Cake for Volunteers

Karen Nichols — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 14:46:19 +0000

Wessex Archaeology’s volunteers were treated to an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ tour at Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum last week as part of a Volunteer Together event. Organised by the Stonehenge Learning & Outreach Coordination Group (SLOCG) this event was open to everyone who volunteers within the Stonehenge landscape for either English Heritage, the National Trust, Wiltshire Museum, Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum and of course Wessex Archaeology.

The afternoon featured updates by the five SLOCG members on their current volunteering opportunities, a tour of the museum’s new gallery space and a special viewing of some of the rare artefacts that have been temporarily removed from the display cases. There was also plenty of time to network and chat over tea and cake! The event was attended by over 80 volunteers and was enjoyed by all.

To find out more about volunteering with Wessex Archaeology please contact our Community & Education Officer, Laura Joyner.

Events