20 spring archaeology - south gloucestershire

get involved

Community ArChAeology groups

South Gloucestershire Council is keen to establish community archaeology groups who will conduct archaeological research and will help to create a framework for future archaeological agendas in the county. The idea is to help volunteers interested in the past learn archaeological skills that will help them explore their historic environment and ultimately make contributions to it.

Council archaeologists will assist groups by providing advice on forming groups, how to conduct archaeological research and generally mentor groups by helping them through their projects, ensuring they are directed and ultimately contribute to a better understanding of the past in South Gloucestershire.

This mentoring will involve helping groups learn about the resources available to them such as the HER, to conduct desk based approaches including documentary studies, aerial photo analysis and map regression and to go out into the landscape and survey and record archaeological sites, fields, buildings and boundaries within the county.

If you are interested in forming a community archaeology group please contact Paul Driscoll at [email protected]

Archaeology for All

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Welcome to the Spring edition of the Heritage and Archaeology newsletter, your essential source of information relating to the historic environment of South

Gloucestershire and for details on forthcoming exhibitions, events, publications and current research.

Winter and the snowy wonderland it created has come and gone and we now focus our attention towards a busy summer schedule. The Festival of Archaeology, a two week celebration of Britain’s Heritage, has replaced National Archaeology Week (see page 2) and South Gloucestershire Council are about to embark on an ambitious and highly exciting archaeology and landscape project for the county

(see page 3). Heritage Open Days return and our heritage groups have been busy with local

projects.

Since the last newsletter the Roman Villa at Badminton Park has been scheduled adding

to a growing list of impressive Roman buildings for the county. Preliminary fieldwork on the Severn Estuary Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (RCZAS) is due to start as we go to press, and students and private researchers continue to make

contributions to the Historic Environment.

Darwin and the Dodo

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Heritage & Archaeology Newsletter • Spring 2009 | 3

Archaeology news

The Festival of British Archaeology will take place between Saturday 18th July and Sunday 2nd August

2009 and replaces National Archaeology Week. Taking place over two weeks South Gloucestershire has a range of events and activities planned for the fortnight. The main attractions will be three day events held on consecutive weekends.

Celebrating Darwin at the Avon Valley Railway explores the life and times of

Charles Darwin on Sunday 19th July. Amongst archaeological

displays and geological tours the day will also include performances from Desperate Men, who will be exploring themes of evolution and extinction through their Darwin and the Dodo live animation. There will also be the chance to purchase tickets to ride on the Avon Valley Railway steam train.

Archaeology in the Park returns to Warmley Historic Gardens in Kingswood on Sunday 26th July. A heartland for the Industrial Revolution, the gardens will be open to the public along with the famous grotto and there may even be a chance to get a glimpse of the Ice House.

The fortnight concludes with a special event at Yate Heritage Centre on Saturday 1st August. Archaeology for All brings together a fantastic day of archaeological activities, including flint knapping displays, bronze age metal working demonstrations, historic re-enactment including cookery and the opportunity to bring your own archaeological finds for identification. In conjunction with this day event Yate Heritage Centre will officially launch the Archaeology and Landscape of South Gloucestershire Community Exhibition.

But it is not just the weekend events. We are planning to run a series of weekday and evening walks and talks on archaeology as well as education events for schools, so no one has to miss out!

For more information visit the website at www.southglos.gov.uk/archaeology.

Mark Horton and the Chair of the Council in the Warmley Grottoes, 2008

Festival of British Archaeology

2 | Heritage & Archaeology Newsletter • Spring 2009

SGC is embarking upon an ambitious project to research the Archaeology and Landscape of South Gloucestershire. It is an opportunity to collate and assess the archaeological evidence relating to how people interacted and lived within the South Gloucestershire landscape, from the Palaeolithic to the modern period.

The project begins with a travelling exhibition at Yate Heritage Centre on Saturday 1st August 2009, which tells the archaeological story of the South Gloucestershire landscape, as we now know it. The exhibition will look at the archaeological landscape of South Gloucestershire by examining concepts such as death and burial, industry, settlement and warfare amongst others and will provide an opportunity to learn more about the Historic Environment. From there the exhibition will move throughout the county to other Heritage Centres where it will display slightly different information related to the specific area it is in, so local people can learn about the history of a particular part of South Gloucestershire.

But the ArLa project is more than an exhibition – it is also a community archaeology project. SGC are keen to see the formation of local community groups who can help with the ongoing research into the past of the county, or to hear from people who already do

historical and archaeological research. We are keen to gather the information into the Historic Environment Record, which will then become available to the public after assessment by the archaeologists at the council.

To support this we are developing a dedicated HER and ArLa website, where people can not only learn about their historic environment, but also contribute to it through an interactive page. The idea is that people engaged in archaeological work (such as local community groups as advertised on page 1 of this newsletter) or even those who chance upon a previously unknown archaeological site whilst out walking, can upload their photos, descriptions, location points etc via the website and these will be sent to the Historic Environment Record Officer at the council, who will decide if they are to be included on the HER. Once they have been analysed (and if accepted) they will then become available for the public and community groups via the website, to increase knowledge of the past and the historic landscape.

In a few years time the results of this community research will inform another exhibition, supplemented by a publication or booklet. In other words community archaeology groups will contribute to a new archaeological exhibition,

which will inform others of the historic landscape of South Gloucestershire.

This project is still in its infancy and the forthcoming exhibition will highlight what we currently know and importantly what we do not know. These gaps in our knowledge will form part of a South Gloucestershire Archaeological Research Framework, a document that will help to guide community archaeology groups in the right direction with their own research.

The results of these initiatives will be disseminated through talks, publications, leaflets and perhaps even conferences where people who have been engaged in archaeological research can give papers on their work.

If you want to know more about this project or are interested in forming a community archaeology group then contact Paul at [email protected].

excavations at hall end roman town

Virtual reconstruction of Badminton roman Building

heritage & archaeology | newSletter

south gloucestershire Archaeology and landscape project

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river severn project

The South Gloucestershire Heritage Forum has also sponsored a bid to Awards for All for a project working with schools in South Gloucestershire. The aim is to raise the awareness of, and interest in, the local and natural history of the River Severn. It will create links with history groups, museums and children so that they can share local stories such as catching salmon in putchers, the Littleton Whale and the Aust Ferry. The project will create a digital resource which will be available to museums and schools.

Look out for two road shows about the River Severn Project in South Gloucestershire this summer. One is planned for a school in Severn Beach, the other will be part of Heritage Open

Days and both will involve an archive stand, plus a storyteller and an art/craft activity.

Frog lane 1949–2009 Celebrations

The final element of the Frog Lane 2009 anniversary organised by the SGMRG and Yate & District Heritage Centre is the DVD project and book. The aim is to produce images and oral history on Frog Lane in association with Chipping Sodbury Secondary School.

The project has been made possible through the unstinting efforts of interviewers linked to Yate Heritage Centre and the Mines Research Group, who have ventured throughout Coalpit Heath and South Gloucestershire to obtain oral histories of the lives of miners and the former residents of mining communities.

SGMRG are blessed with access to an excellent collection of photographs from assiduous research, from the Mines Group over several years and also Frampton Local History Society. Thus, from this source they aim to put together a stimulating interactive package combining awe inspiring pictures with entertaining and informative oral history, to open the lid on life down and beyond Frog Lane Colliery.

heritage newsyate no 2 Coal mine shaft now filled

The collapse noted in the last issue of this newsletter has now been made safe by the Coal Authority (CA), who has a legal responsibility for this even when the shaft is on private land.

Since the collapse, members of the South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group (SGMRG) have been excavating surface remains on the site. Inevitably, during the filling some of the remains near to the hole were trashed but not before they were measured and photographed. A chimney base was discovered during the filling, but unfortunately attempts to move it resulted in it falling apart and ending up down the hole!

A detailed log of the filling operation and an archaeological report on the site will appear in SGMRG newsletters.

medieval Fair (saturday 27th June)

Plans are afoot to revive Winterbourne Fair! A fair was held in the village twice a year, on 29th June and 18th

October for five centuries, ever since King Richard II granted a charter to Blanche Bradeston, Lady of the Manor of Winterbourne on 30th January 1393.

The Charter gave the right of holding a weekly market and two fairs annually “in the town of Winterbourne”. It was commonly held near the Parish Church (perhaps in and around the barn) and on the island in front of the George & Dragon from 16th Century onwards. Sadly the last fair has not been held since 1897, but it will return in 2009.

getting Around – A history of transport in yate & sodbury

Yate Heritage Centre’s recent exhibition “Getting Around” – the History of Transport in Yate and Sodbury was a different exhibition to the norm. For whilst it used local resources and neighbouring archives and museums, as well as being analytical yet accessible, a significant proportion of the research for the exhibition came from Year 9 students at Brimsham Green School in Yate.“Getting Around,” was a 6 month long project collaborating with the Brimsham Green History Department and involved visits by the students to the Heritage Centre archives and to historic rail and dramway sites around Yate.

The History Department and Year 9 students

produced content for 4 out of 11 exhibition panels and selected images for those panels.

Visitors to the Centre can enjoy more information on the history and people involved in the making and running of local railway lines, and the impact they had on future generations. The involvement of the Education Officer, Pat Lacy, made the project particularly rewarding by creating an opportunity to inspire future historians and by forging positive links with a local secondary school.

snow in spring at Avon Valley railway ...

However the snow didn’t come from the sky - instead it came out of the back of a lorry owned by Stroud firm Snow Business. Their exploits were in aid of filming for a German TV series called The Four Seasons.

The series is being produced by Bristol based Gate Television and stars actors Michael York and Tom Conti, although neither were at Bitton for the filming. The scenes are due to be shown on German TV on Christmas Day

info

Severn Estuary Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment

Gloucester County Council has been commissioned by English Heritage to undertake the Severn Estuary Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey, an examination of the archaeological resource of this significant zone.

The programme involves the recording of all known archaeology within the inter-tidal zone, which began in 2006 with a Desk Based Study.

This study involved aerial photographic interpretation and lidar analysis and an examination of the relevant HERs, and the results can be found on the Archaeological Projects page of the Archaeology Services website of Gloucestershire County Council (www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archaeology).

The next stage will be the preliminary fieldwork stage involving non-intrusive, survey to verify the results of the DBA and to characterise site types not visible through aerial and lidar analysis. This will help to map the archaeology and to determine its state of preservation.

Ultimately this document will be a key resource in mitigating coastal change through the 21st century.

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severn estuary levels research Committee (selrC)

The SELRC aims to co-ordinate and encourage research into the archaeology of the Severn and covers the whole of the estuary from Somerset to Gloucester on both the English and Welsh sides.

The SELRC has recently launched its new website, where you can find up to date information on the archaeology of the Severn Estuary and details on forthcoming events, as well

as a fabulous interactive

archaeology page. Joining the SELRC entitles you to go on

the annual fieldtrip, attend the AGM and

conference and receive the journal, as well as helping you to keep abreast of new developments in the archaeology of the region. Check out the website at www.selrc.org.uk


mesolithic Footprint of a 10-12 year old in the severn

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The lost garden of ……

pucklechurch by David R Evans

The South Gloucestershire Historic Environment Record describes certain features at Moat House

Farm, Pucklechurch as “the remains of a square moat [within which is an inner moat] can be seen a short distance north west of Grey House, Pucklechurch”. While moated sites, believed to be an indicator of status rather than truly defensive features, are a rare site in the region they are not unknown.

Barr’s Court at Oldland is a fine surviving example with regular ditches surrounding a substantial area. The Pucklechurch ditches are difficult to follow today but the first edition OS map shows them in full detail and they do look like a moat, similar indeed to Barr’s Court. However, two factors argue against the interpretation of these features as an enclosing moat. First, the name Moat House has little or no antiquity and second, the ditches do not form a complete circuit (confirmed by excavation and a watching brief).

If the ditches do not form part of a moated complex is there a better explanation? Part of the inner moat and the northern extension were interpreted by Iles and Dennison (Bristol & Avon Archaeology 4; 1985) as fishponds. Of the purpose built fishponds they describe and illustrate the northern pond has the closest match. Again Barr’s Court, where the ponds are now built over, furnishes an example and it has been suggested that perhaps the whole complex served as fishponds. Certainly, fish were an important food resource in the medieval world and there is no reason why the ponds and ditches could not stock fish.

If the site at Pucklechurch was not purely defensive but had a pragmatic purpose too, could we go even further and suggest that the “moat” was also a possible water feature of a Medieval garden, designed for effect?

Not surprisingly the archaeological evidence for medieval gardens in Britain is


Neolithic tool kitBy Peter Twinn

sparse. There are sporadic examples of gardens at Tintagel and within Blenheim Palace, possibly dating to the 12th and 13th centuries. Monasteries certainly had gardens but water features, such as moats, were unknown.

Examples may, however, be found from the Late Medieval period. Whilst on a much grander scale than the Pucklechurch example, the castle at Bodiam in Sussex and the manor house at Bishops Waltham in Hampshire show that even on truly moated sites the water features were as much for effect as for defence. At Bodiam it would have been possible to wade through the wide moat with ease. The similarities if not the scale between Bodiam and Pucklechurch are obvious and we suggest that at Pucklechurch the features, rather than being a security measure and beyond a mere status symbol, formed part of a formal garden where fish and cherry blossom could be viewed.

The Englishman’s castle was more than just a security measure, it was a feature in the landscape; a display of conspicuous wealth. They could afford well stocked ponds, watch their fish, watch their castle reflecting off sheets of water and, more importantly, have their guests watch them as well.

My Interest and hobby for the past 30 years

has been that of Metal Detecting, through which I have developed a great appreciation for small finds gleaned from the plough-soil. It is not just the sense of finding something interesting, but also the sense that what I find can tell its very own story. It was through metal-detecting that I began to pick up flints. Flint is not a natural stone in our region so it must have been brought in from further afield. Not only do different flint types help with dating, but they tell us about the type of activities undertaken during prehistory. The main type of flint from these sites is the rubbish or off-cuts, known as debitage. When a tool is manufactured, flint waste from the process of knapping falls to the ground and is left until someone like myself picks it up, knowing it has some historical value, and records the find spot. But in addition and with a keen eye it is also possible to identify the actual tools used by Neolithic communities. Tools such as leaf-shaped arrowheads and notched tools used for cleaning bark from arrow shafts indicate that hunting was still part of Neolithic subsistence practices. In addition utilitarian items such as scrapers used for processing animal hides, or piercers

(a type of drill used for punching holes through animal skins) are also found, along with bone and deer antler which were used for tools like awls or needles. The Neolithic tool kit was simple but multi-functional and could undertake all the tasks necessary for daily life.

The PAS is a national initiative that began in 1997 and was rolled out across the former area of Avon six years ago. The scheme encourages reporting of discovered historic artefacts that may be found through various activities including metal detecting.

Moat at Barrs Court

peter twinn is a part time Archaeology undergraduate at Bristol university. he has been a responsible detectorist for many years and records all his finds with the portable Antiquities scheme through Kurt Adams (Flo). peter’s main interest is the mapping of sites and the recording of finds in the region through metal detecting and field walking. landowner’s have their finds returned after being recorded with the pAs. Detecting in england and wales is subject to a ‘Code of practise for responsible metal Detecting.’

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the Death ray – the secret life of harry grindell matthews

By Jonathon Foster


Heritage & Archaeology Newsletter • Spring 2009 | 98 | Heritage & Archaeology Newsletter • Spring 2009

Alcoholic drinks produced from apples can be found

throughout Europe, from the Cidre of Brittany and Normandy in Northern France through to the powerful Calvados in Spain.

In England there is a long history of cider manufacture. Julius Caesar supposedly discovered locals in Kent drinking a similar product in his forays of 55BC. Although Somerset and Herefordshire perhaps gain most of the modern plaudits for this drink, there is a rich tradition of cider manufacture from the apples of South Gloucestershire. Many of the cider orchards of South Gloucestershire were established in the seventeenth century – just about the zenith of the drink’s fortunes.

Traces of the history of cider are found across our region, be they from historical sources or in the remnants of the buildings that housed

the machinery for pressing the apples. Some orchards have been replanted in South Gloucestershire and cider is still produced, but on a much-reduced level.

the manufacturing technique

“Cider was made by crushing the apples in a circular stone trough; the edge runner stone which crushed the apples was turned by a horse or donkey attached to a piece of machinery called a horse gin… A stone path was provided for the horse and these still exist at northwick house, pilning.” linda hall.

The apple pulp created by crushing the apples in these troughs was known

as “the mash”. It was packed into bundles with straw – these packages known as “cheeses”. These were then put into a special press where the juices were squeezed out. A complete press and trough (originally dating to the late 17th century) is present at Hill House in Olveston.

Other elements connected to the production of cider have also left their mark on the architecture of South Gloucestershire. Hill House has a large cellar to complement its cider press whilst there are other buildings that have adapted their doors to fit a barrel and thus make the cellar accessible.

In addition, the archaeological record can also contribute to the study of the cider industry in our region. According to Linda Hall, pieces of the wooden frame of a cider press were unearthed at Olveston Court and many fragments of the stone trough have been uncovered around South Gloucestershire. One of the larger finds was made in the vicinity of the White Lion Pub in Yate when excavations revealed a large part of the stone mill – the pub might well have been making its own cider in the past.

The Historic Environment Record of South Gloucestershire records the discovery of these traces and even mentions the discovery of a cache of stoneware cider jars in Siston in 1989.

Cider in south gloucestershire

horse gin for making cider

the production of

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Harry Grindell Matthews (1880 – 1941) is one of the great unsung heroes of science. He made major

contributions to wireless communication yet remains a shadowy, little-known figure. But his contribution to wireless communication is just one small example of Matthews’ overall contribution to science. The sheer range of Matthews’ work is astounding and among his many inventions were: a mobile phone, automatic pilot, remote controlled boats and airships, a submarine detection device, optical soundtracks, television, a sky projector, musical instruments and an aerial defence system to protect British cities. He even anticipated super-sonic air travel.

Matthews was born in Winterbourne, South Gloucester on 17th March 1880. Fascinated by science from an early age he made his own spark gap radio transmitter before he left school. After studying electrical engineering, in Bristol, Matthews served in the Boer War only to be invalided home after being wounded and contracting Typhoid Fever.

Back in England he worked as a Consulting Engineer for a wealthy aristocrat and his ideas for wireless communication really took shape. In 1907 he transmitted speech by radio waves, and then in 1909 he patented his ‘Aerophone’ the world’s first mobile phone. This device was a small, polished mahogany box containing all the necessary electronics to transmit speech up to a distance of seven miles.

In 1924 he achieved worldwide fame with his ‘death ray’, a

device that could transmit electricity without wires, make petrol engines stall, melt glass and explode gunpowder. Causing a sensation in the National Press, questions were asked

in Parliament and the government demanded

a demonstration. Not being convinced by what they saw Matthews decided to take his invention to the continent where he collaborated with a French firm. Until recently there has been some doubt as to whether or not he ever invented a ‘death ray’ but a patent for the device, filed by Matthews’ close associate, can be found buried deep in the French patent office.

As Matthews grew older he became increasingly withdrawn and in 1934 he built a laboratory high up in the Welsh Mountains, where he continued his inventing in seclusion. Here he worked on his ‘Stratoplane’ a supersonic aeroplane. But by now Matthews was running out of money and just as he was planning a move to America, he died from a heart attack on September 11th 1941.

The book ‘The Death Ray – The Secret Life of Harry Grindell Matthews’ by Jonathon Foster is published by Inventive Publishing (ISBN: 9780956134806) and is available from Frenchay Village Museum priced £11.99. Find out more at: www harrygrindellmatthews.com.

on 17th march 2009 winterbourne’s first blue plaque was unveiled on matthews’ childhood home, “the grove”, in the high street. Councillor Allan higgs and mrs stevens (nee James), a great niece of mr matthews, unveiled the plaque. the plaque was purchased jointly by the parish Council and mr Jonathan Foster and the event was attended by parish Councillors, local people and children from elm park school.

the Death rayand grindell matthews’ in his laboratory

eVentsheritage open Days

Thurs 10th to Sun 13th September 2009

Heritage Open Days are a national celebration of architecture and culture. They aim to increase public awareness of England’s rich architectural and cultural heritage by allowing free access to hundreds of properties that are normally closed to the public or that would usually charge admission.

For further information and free local leaflet contact Museums & Heritage Service. 01454 865783

Concorde at Filton

Concorde G-BOAF, the youngest Concorde aircraft, flew into history on 26 November 2003 as the last ever Concorde to fly. Destination? Filton, birthplace of supersonic travel.. Celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the first Concorde flight, Alpha Foxtrot’s visitors’ thirty-

minute onboard experience now includes the Captain’s take-off announcement for an evening departure from London Heathrow bound for JFK New York. During the thirty minute “flight”, the Mach meters will rise from zero to 56,000ft, -60°C, 1,350mph and Mach 2, recreating the journey from airport to supersonic flight.

Tours last 100 minutes – one minute for every passenger seat on Concorde – and take place throughout the year commencing 10am, 12 noon, 2pm on Wednesdays to Sundays inclusive.

Tickets available online at www.concordeatfilton.org.uk or phone 0117 936 5485 (not Mondays).

Bristol Aero Collection at Kemble

Bristol Aero Collection Museum in Hangar E2 at Kemble Airfield opens Sundays and Mondays from Easter to the end of October from 10am to 4pm. Wander through the past 100 years of the full range of “Made in Bristol” engineering from trams, buses, lorries and industrial products to examples of aircraft, helicopters and engines as well as missiles, a nuclear bomb and spacecraft.

Special displays include the original Concorde mock-up and the Bristol Brabazon – the world’s first “jumbo” aircraft that first flew sixty years ago.

In the new Activity Zone, visitors can make and fly their own glider, practice radio calls like a pilot, learn more about aircraft and missiles and even launch a water rocket.

More information online at www.bristolaero.com

Vintage Vehicles at Frenchay museum

Frenchay Village Museum is holding its annual Vintage Vehicle Extravaganza on Saturday 18th July from 2-5pm. The museum is just inside Entrance “B” of Frenchay Hospital.Elderly cars, motorcycles, and bicycles are joined this year by vintage buses that will be giving rides to Frenchay Flower Show taking place at the same time in the village hall. Entrance to the vehicle show is free.

A book launch is also taking place about the work of a local technical artist named Francis Simpson.

Acton Court – reliving history

In the 500th anniversary year of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne, Hungerford Household brings living history to Acton Court as members of the household, from servants to gentry, prepare for the King’s visit.

Costumed re-enactors demonstrate their skills as they go about the business of preparing food, crafts and entertainments making ready for the arrival of the court.

Visitors will have the opportunity to talk with the characters and participate in a variety of activities.

Hungerford Household 25th and 26th July 2009

A series of great events are planned at Acton Court this summer. Tours of the house and grounds can be made on appointment. See web site for details of all events.

www.actoncourt.com



The ArchaeologistWelcome to a new monthly

column that aims to explore the work carried out by

commercial archaeologists and why they do what they do! Sam Driscoll and Paul Martin of Absolute Archaeology explain.

Commercial archaeology can be very different from the glamorous portrayal found in the media, but no less interesting. As commercial archaeologists our bread and butter (so to speak) comes from development projects (ranging from large-scale developments to small house extensions) that may impact upon known or suspected archaeology. From these developments it may be necessary to carry out some kind of archaeological investigation. In this issue we focus on two common requirements, Desk-Based Assessments and Watching Briefs.

A common precursor to development is the Desk Based Assessment or DBA, which requires an examination of the all the known documentary, cartographic (map), aerial photographic, pictorial, published and unpublished records regarding a particular site. DBAs are, as the name suggests, desk based with no field investigation apart from site reconnaissance.

Developers may approach us for this work to pre-empt the planning system or it may be a requirement set by the county archaeologist. Either way the intention is to broadly highlight the existing and potential archaeology and to ultimately provide some guidance on the impact of the development on the archaeology. Generally they only take a few days to complete, but are often one of the most interesting jobs we undertake as there is always something new to discover and learning about the history of an area can be fascinating, even if no further work is necessary afterwards.

A Watching Brief differs from a DBA in that it is purely fieldwork. It is often required when there is a chance that archaeology exists, but it is no clear cut, or where it has potentially been destroyed by, for example, previous landscaping. It is often issued to ensure that potential archaeology is not missed during development, but where there is not

enough evidence to require a larger evaluation.

In practice it involves a skilled archaeologist monitoring the initial groundworks (such as the digging of foundation trenches for houses etc), recording any archaeology that may come from these works and then providing a report to the county archaeologist for approval. It can often be unglamorous as you stand in torrential rain or the beating sun watching a machine stripping soil to reveal very little but the natural geology. More often than not no archaeology is forthcoming, but occasionally important discoveries are made, which makes the job all the more worthwhile.

Paul Martin and Sam Driscoll are partners in Absolute Archaeology, a professional archaeological contractor offering archaeological services throughout the south and southwest of England. In addition they are involved in community related archaeology projects and are keen proponents of Archaeology for All. See the website at www absolutearchaeology.co.uk.

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south gloucestershire’s first Armed Forces day is to be held on 27th June 2009

Anyone who is ex-forces is welcome to participate in the parade (along Regent St/High St Kingswood) .There will also be stalls and activities in Kingswood Park. Members of the museums group have already agreed to take part.

The day will include a presentation of HM Armed Forces Veterans Badges. Anyone who has served in HM Armed Forces (including TA) is entitled to apply for a badge, including the Volunteer and Regular Reserves. There is no qualifying time period. If you are a veteran and don’t already have a badge, please contact George Kousouros on 01454 868152 to discuss applying for one to be presented to you on the day.

national Family week

National Family Week is a new national occasion to celebrate family life in the UK, taking place from 25th to 31st May 2009. The week will include hundreds of events and activities run by local authorities, charities,

companies, the media and schools, encouraging millions of people to celebrate being part of a family.

South Gloucestershire Council is supporting National Family Week by planning two family events to celebrate the occasion. The first event is in Yate town centre on Tuesday 26th May, and the second is in Kingswood Park on Thursday 28th May. 11.00am – 4.00pm.

Just some of the activities planned are storytelling with Cassandra Wye, a wonderfully engaging story teller who has worked in theatres and festivals around the world. There will also be the Bookstart Bear with reading puzzles, Roman Archaeology road show with mosaic making, strictly Come Dancing, Road Safety Displays, Treasure Hunt and making Solar spinning plates.Both events are free and everyone is welcome to join in celebrating family life in South Gloucestershire.

loCAl history tAlKsAll evening talks start at 7.30pm unless stated.

Sat 2 /Sun 3 May - 01454 883607 South Glos Mines Research Group Frog Lane 2009 Launch & Exhibition at Miners Institute, Coalpit Heath

Tue 5 May - 01179 671362- £2 Kingswood History Society Brief History of St Andrew’s, Bristol

Mon 11 May - 6.45pm by church in Church Lane, £2 ALHA Summer Walks Winterbourne Medieval Barn

Thu 14 May - 01179 9570942 Frenchay Tuckett Society AGM & 20 year retrospective

Thu 14 May - 01454 772 285 Winterbourne Medieval Barn Trust Talk Sally Badham FSA ‘The Bradestons at Winterbourne church in the 14th century and their tomb monuments

Mon 18 May - 01225 891229 Marshfield & District LHS AGM & Talk Elizabeth Devon Avon & Bybrook River’s history

Tue 19 May - 01454 883607 £2 South Glos. Mines Research Group Talk Steve Grudgings The History of Frog Lane Colliery Yate Heritage Centre – booking essential via Yate HC

Wed 27 May - 01454 413350 £2 Alveston History Society Talk Tony Cherry The Changing Face of Thornbury High Street

Tue 2 Jun - 01179 671362 £2 Kingswood History Society AGM & Members’ Evening

Thu 4 Jun - 01179 372596 Wick & Abson LHG Talk Alan Freke The Bells of Frenchay Church

Tue 16 Jun - 01454 883607 £2 South Glos, Mines Research Group Talk David Hardwick The Bristol Coalfield Yate Heritage Centre – booking essential via Yate HC their tomb monuments

Sat 27 Jun - 01454 772 285 Winterbourne Medieval Barn Trust Winterbourne Medieval Fair

Thu 2 Jul - 01179 372596 Wick & Abson LHG AGM, wine & cheese

Sat 4 Jul - 01256 896715 South Glos. Mines Research Group Outdoor Talk and Walk 1 – Frog Lane

Sat 4/ Sun 5 Jul - 01256 896715 South Glos Mines Research Group Frog Lane 2009 community event –

Sat 18 Jul - 01179 9570942 2.00 - 5.00pm Frenchay Tuckett Society Vintage Vehicle Extravaganza 2-5 pm at Frenchay Village Museum

Sat 18 Jul - 01454 299035 9.00am South Glos Mines Research Group Outing 2 Corsham Stone Mine David Pollard

Sat 25 Jul - 9.30-4.30 booking essential 01454 778437 Winterbourne Medieval Barn Trust Basket-making workshop

CounCil eVents – talks and Contacts

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contacts

Historic Environmental Records, South Gloucestershire Council: Paul Driscoll 01454 862175 [email protected] David Evans 01454 863649 [email protected]

Museums & Heritage Service, South Gloucestershire Council: Melissa Barnett & Linda Coode-Smith 01454 865783 [email protected] [email protected]

South Gloucestershire Heritage Forum For further information please contact Museums and Heritage Service

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20 spring archaeology - south gloucestershire

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