Worthing Archaeological Society, Field Unit.

New site

2009-08-10T05:44:00.000-07:00

Click on this link for more up to date information.Click here.

2009-07-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

Saturday 23rd January 2010, a one-day course simply titled  

'Stonehenge' will be held at the University of Oxford (England).  

Through the presentations to this dayschool you will get behind the  

headlines and hear directly from those whose work at Stonehenge is  

changing our understanding the monument and its landscape, and  

reshaping the way it is presented to the public.

      The presentations will include: Beyond Stonehenge (Tim Darvill);  

The Stonehenge Riverside project (Mike Parker Pearson); The Stonehenge  

landscape before Stonehenge (Julian Thomas); From house to Temple:  

exploring the architecture of timber and stone monuments in the late  

Neolithic of the Stonehenge region (Joshua Pollard); Merlin's magic  

Stones: Stonehenge and the bluestones (Tim Darvill); Future plans and  

developments (Amanda Chadburn).

      Tuition fee: £44.00. Accommodation is often available in Rewley  

House for those who wish to stay on the night before a course. Please  

contact the Residential Centre on 01865 270362 for details for  

availability and prices. If you have any questions about this course,  

please email ppdayweek@conted.ox.ac.uk.

Soltice walk 2009

2009-06-22T01:34:00.000-07:00

Photos of this years walk can be found on this link.click here.

Social event.

2009-06-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

Barbeque

Sunday July 5^th at 77 Mill Road North Lancing

Margaret’s Garden

From 2.30 pm until the food, drinks and conversation run out

Rodney will be cooking his fantastic barbeque food

Bring your own alcohol but soft drinks will be available.

For the bargain price of £5 per head

Don’t Miss this opportunity to admire the view from this wonderful garden and get acquainted with the chickens

Last date for Tickets Sunday 21 June

Numbers limited so don’t delay book today

Parham 2009.

2009-05-27T01:29:00.000-07:00

Details of the latest work at Parham are posted on the Parham reserach site.
http://parhamresearchgroup.blogspot.com

Joe Barrow.

2009-04-07T01:58:00.000-07:00

It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that our past chairman Joe Barrow passed away over the last weekend.

Many newer members will not have known him, but many will, Joe remarried only a few weeks ago, this brought him great happiness I know.

Joe's funeral is on April 22nd at 11 40am at Worthing Crematorium.

"ave atque vale."

Summer 2009.

2009-02-17T01:28:00.000-08:00

The dates for Walberton are Saturday 22nd August to Sunday 5th September.

Membership fees are now overdue, you cannot attend events unless you have paid your fee, as you wil not be covered by our insurance.

Southwick Roman Villa.

2008-09-12T03:42:00.000-07:00

New finds from Southwick Roman Villa

Following an archaeological dig with Manor Hall Middle School children near the Southwick Roman Villa site during National Archaeology Week in July, Giles Standing, an archaeologist from Shoreham, will be running an Open Day at the Southwick Society’s Manor Cottage Heritage Centre on Saturday September 20th. Finds from the dig will be on show and members of the public are also invited to bring along their own finds from gardens in Southwick for identification by experts from the Sussex Archaeological Society and the Portable Antiquities Scheme, particularly objects that might be Roman and from the area near the site of the Villa – Southwick Street and Manor Hall Road.

Southwick Roman Villa was an important 1st century AD country residence and has been described as a scaled-down version of Fishbourne Roman Palace, with glass mosaics with gold leaf and a central Italian-style garden. It was excavated in the 1930s and was mostly covered by Southwick Methodist Church in 1965. Giles would also like people to bring in old newspaper cuttings relating to the Villa, or any old photographs or plans they may have stored away. He would like to meet anyone who may have objects from the previous excavations, particularly the 1930s dig, from which a lot of excavated material has gone missing.

The day will be suitable for all ages and will give the opportunity to see and handle real Roman objects from the current excavation in Southwick. The Heritage Centre is in Southwick Street and the event will run from 10 am to 4 pm, admission free. For further information ring Giles on 01273 440114.

Update on current excavation.

2008-08-26T23:44:00.000-07:00

There are updates on current excavation at Blacksmiths Corner on the excavation site.click here.

Sponser.

2008-08-12T04:05:00.000-07:00

'Our Sponsors for the excavation at Blacksmiths Corner.

May Gurney.(link) is proud to assist Worthing Archaeological Society in their dig at the Roman Villa excavation, Blacksmiths Corner, Walberton.'

Please note.

2008-08-11T01:38:00.000-07:00

Some of the links, ie, Binsted, Warminghurst are at present down, they are being migrated to a new host.

Lecture.

2008-07-30T04:31:00.000-07:00

A lecture worth watching on burials.given by Dr John Moreland, BA, PhD Reader in Medieval Archaeology click here.

Plus the workers live seen working, new store.Click here now.

New field work.

2008-07-25T01:53:00.001-07:00

Field work.
WAS FU have been asked to participate in a professional excavation being undertaken as part of the extension of the hospice in Titnor Lane.
The aim is to undertake a 2 week excavation starting on 8th Sept, within the overall site. The area assigned to WAS will be 20m x 20m and trial excavations have revealed multi-period activity from BA to post-Roman.
We would be undertaking the work under the guidance of the Professional Unit (still at tender stage) and members of the public will be invited to take part (having taken temporary membership of the society).
I appreciate that this follows on very shortly after our summer excavation - but thought it too good an opportunity to turn down. So if you are interested and would like more information - please let me know.
Also, the project team is trying to get together 10 metal detectorists to go over the area - probably in early August - but needs to be confirmed. So if you would like to volunteer then please again let me know.
Many thanks, reply direct to Field unit director Keith Bolton.
keith

Blacksmiths Corner.

2008-07-13T07:12:00.000-07:00

This August we will be continuing our excavation of the Roman site at Blacksmiths corner.
Dates are from Saturday the 16th August until the 31st of August.

There is an open weekend on the 23rd/24th of August. 11am till 3pm each day.

There will be a collecting bucket for donations, which will be used to offset the cost of the two week excavation. Soft drinks will be available on the open days for visitors.

Please advise the dates you are able to attend.

If you are unable to dig, no problem lots of other work to do, finds processing, washing finds on site, talking to visitors, etc.

More details to follow very soon.

Beedings update.

2008-06-30T01:29:00.001-07:00

The last Neanderthals of Britain revealed through new study.

New archaeological excavations in West Sussex, funded by English Heritage, have thrown new light on the last Neanderthals hunters of Northern Europe. The site, situated on a sandstone ridge near the town of Pulborough, is emerging as important in explaining the extinction of our closest ancestors.

The team, led by Dr Matthew Pope and Caroline Wells of Archaeology South East based at UCL, is undertaking the first modern, scientific investigation of the site since its original discovery. This occurred in 1900 when construction of a monumental house known as ‘Beedings’ revealed some 2,300 perfectly preserved stone tools from fissures encountered in the foundation trenches.

Only recently were the tools recognised for their importance. Research by Roger Jacobi of the Leverhulme funded AHOB Project showed conclusively that the Beedings material has strong affinities with other tools from northern Europe dating to between 35 - 42,000 years ago. The collection of tools from Beedings is more diverse and extensive than any other known from the region. It therefore offers the best insight into new light on the technologically advanced cultures which occupied Northern Europe before the accepted appearance of our own species in the region.

“Dr Jacobi’s work showed the clear importance of the site. The exceptional collection of tools appears to represent the hunting kit of Neanderthal populations only a few millennia from complete disappearance in the region.” says Dr Matthew Pope. “Unlike earlier, more typical Neanderthal tools these were made on long, straight blades. Blades which were then turned into a variety of bone and hide processing implements as well as lethal spear points.”

“The real possibility that they were left by some of the last Neanderthal hunting groups to occupy northern Europe is an exciting one, and the impression they create is of a population in complete command of both landscape and natural raw materials with a flourishing technology - not a people on the edge of extinction.”

“At Beedings we’re building on the earlier work carried out by Dr Roger Jacobi to reveal as much as we can about the original site,” said Dr Pope. “Our excavations, allowed only through the generosity of the current landowner, have proved beyond doubt that the material discovered here was genuine and originated from fissures within the local sandstone. A further surprise has been the discovery of older, more typical Neanderthal tools, found deeper in the fissure. Clearly, Neanderthal hunters were drawn to the hill over a long period time, presumably for excellent view of game-herds grazing on the plains below the ridge”

The excavations suggest the site may not be unique. Similar sites with comparable fissure systems are thought to exist across south east England. The project now aims to prospect more widely across the region for similar sites.

Barney Sloane, Head of Historic Environment Commissions at English Heritage, said: “Sites such as this are extremely rare and a relatively little considered archaeological resource. Their remains sit at a key watershed in the evolutionary history of northern Europe. The tools at Beedings could equally be the signature of pioneer populations of modern humans, or traces of the last Neanderthal hunting groups to occupy the region. This study offers a rare chance to answer some crucial questions about just how technologically advanced Neanderthals were, and how they compare with our own species.”

The project, which has been running since February 2008, has been directed by Dr Matthew Pope of UCL and Caroline Wells of Sussex Archaeological Society, working closely with specialists and the Worthing Archaeological Society.

Blotting House

2008-05-05T03:31:00.000-07:00

Members of the society enjoyed a walk around Chithurst , just over a week ago, despite it being a slightly wet day , but warm it was enjoyed by all, on our visit to Iping we came across the name on a house called Blotting House., Plus another called the Mill house, and yes the mill did make blotting paper. According to Stidder and Smith -
Watermills of Sussex, in the late 19th century white and colored blotting
paper was made on a single 60 inch machine. It looks as if blotting paper
was made there until the mills were destroyed by fire in 1925.more information click here

Thought this may be of interest.

Spring/Summer programe

2008-02-29T02:04:00.000-08:00

Summer Programme.

March/April, surveying and geophysics/ recording work, at Parham, and Slindon plus, Saddlescoombe farm.

May 24^th – 26^th inclusive. Site, Parham medieval village.

June, Beedings, date to be announced, possible over a period of 2/3 weeks.

June /July surveying/ recording , Moot mound, Gumber airfield site, plus various other sites on the Slindon estate, including Round Barrows.

Stane Street, at Gumber farm end to be recorded, this is to compare the damage by Badgers, since last survey two years ago.

August.16^th / 31^st, Blacksmiths Corner, continuation of last year’s excavation, Roman site.

Please make note of above dates, and please let me know the dates you are able to attend, as far as you can.

Walks.

2008-02-17T06:31:00.000-08:00

This is the link to society walks. click here.

New site.

2008-02-06T01:11:00.000-08:00

A new web site is in the process of being built, so its only in Beta stage at present, it will cover the archeology of Sussex over the past 100 years or so, work covered will include,the work of John Pull, Con Ainsworth, Fred Aldsworth,. The main basis of the site will be the connection with Worthing Archaeological Society which was formed in 1922.

Sussex Archeology. Link. note links underlined on new site are not working at present.

Loftus Saxon Treasures

2008-01-24T16:08:00.000-08:00

This is very interesting the link below will take you too the full discussion.

click here.

Westminster Hall debates

Tuesday, 22 January 2008

A site to visit.

2008-01-16T03:04:00.000-08:00

This is very interesting, really bringing a excavation alive, Wessex Archeology Roman burial.click here.

For those of you who have heard the recent news of the discovery of a Roman
stone coffin at Boscombe Down, near Amesbury in Wiltshire, we have just
released a video of part of its excavation.

Internet T.V.

2007-11-30T00:41:00.000-08:00

Check this out, well worth a view.www.archaeologychannel.org

Interesting museum in Brighton. http://www.oldpolicecellsmuseum.org.uk

Parham.

2007-11-09T00:29:00.000-08:00

Parham link, click here.

Tutankhamun exhibition.

2007-09-30T02:00:00.000-07:00

Sold out.

Tutankhamun Exhibition

The Boy King is Back

For more than 3,000 years Tutankhamun's treasures lay unseen beneath the Egyptian sands. When they toured the world in the 1970's they were the ultimate 'must see' event. Now Tutankhamun returns to London, in a spectacular new exhibition of 130 priceless treasures from the tombs of Tutankhamun and his royal ancestors.

There are only a few tickets now left for this exciting exhibition, date Saturday the 23^rd February 2008, tickets cost £28. This covers travel and entrance to the exhibition.

If you have reserved tickets please pay now, if you want a ticket apply now direct to me as numbers left are limited. Please ring me or email first to avoid disappointment.

Start time is 9.30 am from Worthing, arrive central London Midday approximately for lunch, not provided. Arrive at the 02 arena at 2pm for timed entrance to the exhibition, you will have 3 hours to tour the arena and take tea etc.

Leave at 5pm for return journal to Worthing, arriving back at 7pm.

Field unit .

Rodney

Fire London.

2007-09-19T23:38:00.001-07:00

Museum in Docklands Study Day
The Great Fire of London: Myths and Realities

6 October 2007

10am – 5.30pm

How true are the established ‘facts’ about the Great Fire of London? Did
only six people die in the fire? Did the fire really bring about a
revolution in London’s architecture? Did the fire stop the plague? Leading
experts will discuss these and other questions about London’s infamous
disaster. Can we tell myth from reality?

10.00 Registration

10.15 Introduction, Meriel Jeater, Museum of London

10.30 How many people died in the Great Fire?, Neil Hanson, author, and
Gustav Milne, University College London

11.30 Did the fire radically change London’s architecture?, Stephen
Porter, author, and Dr John Schofield, Museum of London

12.30 Lunch (not provided)

13.30 Why was it claimed that the fire was started by a Catholic
conspiracy?, Dr Colin Haydon, University of Winchester

14.30 Did the fire stop the plague?, Professor Justin Champion, Royal
Holloway, University of London

15.30 Coffee

16.00 How has London coped with fires since 1666?, Alex Werner, Museum of
London, and Phil Butler, Fire Borough Commander for Enfield

17.00 Final questions and close

Each session will include a panel discussion and time for questions. The
day will be chaired by Dr Vanessa Harding of Birkbeck, University of London.

Tickets: £20 (£15 concs). For further information and to book tickets call:
0870 444 3855, email: info@museumindocklands.org.uk

Parham Park excavation.

2007-07-17T03:06:00.000-07:00

Photos now on line, go to excavations on line site.Click here.

Rome take a tour.

2007-07-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

A new and very good site, take a tour around ancient Rome, a simulation that is very good,.
for a tour, follow directions and you wont be disappointed. Click here.

Resitivty/and survey photo hosting.

2007-06-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Brand new link, will go on side bar soon, meanwhile have a look,click here.

Silbury Hill Latest.

2007-05-12T00:50:00.000-07:00

See this link for up to date ,
click here.

Saturday 28th April.

2007-04-29T03:44:00.000-07:00

Demonstrations of prehistoric flint Knapping techniques was given by Will Lord,
Professional flint Knapper from Norfolk.

See photo blog for some pictures.http://was-photos.blogspot.com.

Saw pit Estate Yard

2007-04-20T02:12:00.000-07:00

The saw pit in the estate yard at Slindon will be excavated later this year, see notes about the saw pit on, Journal page,click here X.

Photo store. Slindon./Saddlescoombe visit.

2007-04-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

Photos taken on the estate over the years are being hosted on a new site, more will be added from time to time. Plus now added Saddlescoombe Farm visit, more to add later. Click on link.http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/archresearch

Photo Blog.

2006-11-20T04:18:00.000-08:00

Link to new photo Blog. http://was-photos.blogspot.com

20th August.2006. Update.

2006-08-20T01:20:00.000-07:00

The walk to Park Brow is now full .click this link.
.Next Saturday there is the start of the two week excavation of a Roman site at Binsted, location available to members only.
There have been some finds from the site recovered on brief field walks; finds include Samiam ware, Course ware, and floor and roof tiles, together with some interesting worked flints.
If you are coming along to this excavation for any period of time, then if you have not already done so, please let Keith Bolton know a.s.p.

The newsletter as you are aware has been delayed for technical reasons, but it is hoped that it will be completed and published very soon.
Meanwhile information about forth coming activities will be posted here.

Society Social will this year be held at the Old Bishops Palace in Tarring West Worthing, date 19th November 7.30pm, cost £7.50 per ticket to include a guest speaker and a ploughman’s supper, together with wine and soft drinks tea and coffee. A great chance to get together with members old and new, all new members who have as yet been along to an event, you will be made most welcome.
Tickets on sale NOW.

Park Brow Walk. Tuesday 29th August 2006

2006-06-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

Park Brow. Click to link. Need Acrobat reader.
Site visit organised by Sompting Estate with Lancing & Sompting Pastfinders Click to link.
All welcome, free. Downs NE of Cissbury, settled up to the 4th century AD.
Guided by David McOmish of English Heritage.

(1Refresh awareness of the 'story' of this site
(2) If possible stimulate some original writing reviewing the Park Brow data in the context of more recent studies elsewhere.
(3) Generate ideas for future practical archaeological studies in the Sompting Estate downland, possibly by WAS?
(4) Identify archaeological priorities for future agricultural management of the area, to be considered alongside wildlife and farming ones.

Meet at 18.15 at TQ 166 088, on the east side of Bostal Road, between Beggars Bush CP and Steyning Bowl.
(Parking by kind permission of the Passmore family at Church Farm Coombes.)

We will set off at 18.30 and walk into the Park Brow area using the footpath
off Bostal Road (TQ 163 096) down to Lychpole Bottom

If any members would like to come along, then please let me know in advance.
Numbers are limited,first come basis.

2006-06-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

Summer Solstice.

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with other members of the Field Unit on Bignor Hill.

Date 21st June Wednesday.

Time 8pm -10pm. Meet car park top of Bignor Hill, bring a drink and some food, short walk to the site.
We go even if wet!!.
If you would like to come, and not sure how to get there, then please contact Rodney or Keith by email or by phone.

2006-06-07T10:17:00.000-07:00

Binsted Now cancelled, but only because the crop will not be off untill October, when we may undertake an excavation.

Summer excavation. Binsted

There will be a continuation of the excavation of the Binsted tile kiln click link.
start date is 26th August till the 10th of September.
If you want to take part over the period of the excavation, will you please let Keith Bolton know by the middle of August the dates’ you hope to attend?
Members site visit.
http://eon-archaeology.blogspot.com

North Stoke Church

2006-06-05T01:31:00.000-07:00

North Stoke Church. St. Mary’s.

On Saturday the Society resitivity team undertook a resitivity survey around the outside of North Stoke church, the survey was on behalf of the University of Sussex CCE course on church archaeology recording.
A survey of the church is also being undertaken by the Society using our new total station surveying equipment. This will be carrying on over the next few days.

The results of the resitivity survey will be published in the next week or two, but early indications do not show any footprint of a much earlier church on this site.
An early buttress that had been removed at an early date did however show up, another interesting bit of information is that during research into the history of the church among very early documents ‘is that the original dedication of the church has been discovered, St.Marys.

I am sure more about the history of this church will be revealed over the next few weeks by the student’s on this course.
There are some pictures and a little about the history of this church on churches in Sussex web site. just click highlighted link.

2006-05-10T04:47:00.000-07:00

The British Engineerium (Hove)

This most important museum and its collection has been saved , and will reopen, The new owner, Mr Holland, , bought the £2 million British Engineerium building and its unrivalled collection of steam engines and engineering artefacts, valued by Bonhams at about £1.2 million.
Mr Holland plans to spend £500,000 on revamping the musuem, which will then open up to the public as usual.

National Ice Age Network.

2006-05-08T04:26:00.001-07:00

National Ice age Network.

The national Ice Network is universities based research group, and seeks the participation of all who are interested in exploring our Ice Age heritage. This includes those in the quarry industry as well as academics and the general public.
Much of our knowledge about the Ice age Britain has arisen from commercial sand and gravel quarrying.
Quarry excavations have revealed geological sequences, plant and animal fossil remains, and the stone tools of out earliest ancestors-the raw materials needed to reconstruct the Ice Age World.

The benefits of the aggregates quarrying to reconstruction our Ice Age heritage cannot be realised unless these finds are recorded, recovered and researched.
Such work is an essential component of environmentally sustainable quarrying, and for this reason the National Ice Age Network is supported by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF)

This initiative aims not only to help ensure, through collaboration with the aggregates industry, the recording of Ice Age remains and finds but also to promote interest in a period that shaped the English Landscape.
Ice Age Facts

600,000 years ago early humans were hunting and butchering large animals in Suffolk.

450,000 years ago during the Anglian glaciation, an ice sheet 1km high reached the outskirts of London.

125,000 years ago hippos, lions and elephants would have been a common sight in Central London.

80,000 years ago the Earth entered into the most recent glacial period known in Britain as the Devensian.

20,000 years ago the Devensian reached its peak with an ice sheet covering much of Scotland and England as far south as Birmingham.

11,500 years ago the last glacial period ended and the interglacial we are living in today began

To find out more about our Ice Age heritage, become a member of the National Ice Age Network, log onto www.iceage.org.uk

Field unit, update.

2006-05-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

On Saturday the 6th May members of the field unit enjoyed a walk around the Slindon Estate, the purpose of the walk was to introduce new and old members to areas of the Estate that are not normally visited as a part of our field days there.
There was a good attendance despite intermittent rain, which did not dampen sprits; the walk covered a distance of some 7 to 8 miles.

Buildings Archaeology.

While some members were on the walk, others were engaged in the recording of the Victorian/Edwardian conservatory which is a part of the Slindon House complex, and a part of our on going recording work on the standing buildings on the Estate.
The grandeur of the conservatory has long been lost, once the grand glasshouse would have been a home to oranges and peach trees, and many other exotic plants, and a place to take afternoon tea.
The photo taken in 1908 shows that it was very grand, a lost era.

Field Work

2006-04-27T02:57:00.000-07:00

Summer Excavations.

The Society Field unit is running 2 major excavations this summer.
The dates are:

1.Gobblestubbs Copse. Start. July 8th. Saturday. For one week. This is with English heritage. Confirmation of this date, still to be fully confirmed,

2. Binsted Tile Kiln. Start. 26th August. For two weeks.

This is a continuation of last year’s excavation.

Recording of buildings

2006-04-12T02:38:00.000-07:00

Mike standing. Recording of buildings.

Picture, Moated site near Buncton Chapel. (Click on picture to enlarge.)

On Tuesday night Mike Standing gave the Society a very interesting lecture on the Archaeology of Buildings, and some thought provoking fields of investigations were discussed.
Such diverse areas of investigation that has yet to be undertaken, is the recording of moated sites in the Arun valley, and I suspect that applies also to the Adur valley and other areas, perhaps a future project for some members of our Society.

Other areas of recording that I must admit I had not thought of is the recording of certain farm buildings, not the barns, but the smaller structures, such as pig stys,
workshops and alike, and the outside privy, none of the buildings have really been recorded in any depth, and they are disappearing fast.

Are there any members out there that may like to undertake one of the areas of recording, it would be a very good project to undertake, it could be in the first instance a photographic recording, and can be over a long period of time, but not to long as the features are disappearing.

Saturday 6th May.

2006-04-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

Slindon Walk. Saturday 6th May, time 9.45 am. Meet at the National Trust Estate Base camp, this is next to the entrance to Slindon College.

All new members, and those who may wish to join us.
Picture of Medieval tower on estate.

For those of you who belong to the Field Unit but have never or rarely visited the estate, we will be having a walk around the southern and middle sections of the NT estate on Saturday 6th May.

The intention is to look at the medieval deer park and the archaeological sites within it, in the morning. After lunch (bring your own), we will walk the central part of the estate, looking at various archaeological sites.

If people only want to do the morning walk - that will be fine.

Meet at the Slindon NT office/Base Camp at 9:45 for a 10:00 start. For those not interested in the walk, there will be other activities.... info to follow.

If you don’t know the way to Slindon, please let me know and I will provide details.Email to :
rodney_gunner@hotmail.com

Update.

2006-04-03T04:24:00.000-07:00

Warminghurst.

The University of Sussex M.A. training excavation is over, there were not a lot of fines, one or two sherds of late medieval pottery, but otherwise mainly some of the geology of the area was exposed, in the main sandstone.
But the students learned a lot about recording techniques, which was the aim of the excavation. Sally Montstephen was our member on this excavation.

Goodwood.

Another M.A. training excavation is being undertaken at a location near to Goodwood, this involves one of our members Pat Jones, at the time of writing I do not have any details of the excavation, except to say that I understand that it is very impressive.

Warminghurst.

Another area close by the church, produced on a very short field overservation walk, sherds of early course medieval pottery, this is close to the location of possible area of early medieval occupation, a field walk may be planned for this area later this year.

Binsted

Work is continuing on researching the area, and extracting information from files at Worthing museum about the 1960s excavation of the tile kiln there, which was undertaken by the late Con Ainsworth.
Much valuable information has come to light and in due course it is hoped that a report will be produced.
Emma Tristram, is also researching the area, and is doing a lot of very valuable field research work, and is discovering a lot of lost information about the area, and its inhabitants over the periods of time. See http://binsted-discoveries.blogspot.com

Open day.

2006-03-26T03:44:00.000-08:00

Worthing Museum open day.

The day proved very successful, in that we recruited some six new members, the number of visitors over other days we have attended there was also up.
There is a varied selection of field work coming up over the Spring and Summer period, so look out for your emails and look at this site every week for updates.

WARMINGHURST
Work at Warminghurst is carrying on for another week, so far, the finds include some very fine late medieval pottery, but there is so far no indication as to its providence.
The Sussex County Times newspaper carried out an interview with myself, about the area and in particular the church and its history, they took some pictures of the excavation there.
This article should be published in a week or two.Visitors are welcome to visit the site, please contact me direct for directions. arch.research@ntlworld.com

Time team

2006-03-19T12:53:00.000-08:00

Time Team, some pics from Time Team.

Update 17th March.

2006-03-17T00:27:00.000-08:00

March 15th, work on archiving Con Ainsworth 1960s excavation at Binsted, continues at Worthing museum, together with the archiving of maps stored there.
This is an on going process; that will continual for some time.
March 16th Thursday, members of the field unit were at Slindon, surveying took place on the enclosures at Rewell Wood, despite it being very cold with light snow, the task was completed.
Other members stayed at the base camp in the warm, and undertook finds processing, washing and marking.

Starting this Saturday 18th March, over a two-week period, two of our members who are undertakeing a part time MA course at Sussex University, will be excavating at Warminghurst, and at Goodwood. Sally Mountsteven at Warminghurst, and Pat Jones at Goodwood. Society members are providing assistance.

Time Team

2006-03-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

Time Team.19th March.

The programe to watch, this Sunday at 5.55pm, Black Patch, and we are in it, well that is if you look very closely.
Pete Skilton will be there !!!.

2006-03-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

Slindon Village, open day.

The open day at Slindon village hall was very successful; at times, the hall was so full that it was difficult to move around.
The display of old photos of the village and its various trades and folk, was an excellent display, this is what a history day is all about, and it brought together archaeology and history, each complementing the other.
I would like to thank all those involved and a special thanks to Robin Upton, whose vast collection of photos covering the late nineteenth century up to the present day was very impressive.We must not forget the history club, and all the hard work put in by Philip Berry, and the financial help given by the Pudding Club. Last but not least, the National Trust for their contribution on the day, and their ongoing welfare of the village as a whole.

Clear the trees.

2006-03-08T01:37:00.000-08:00

Tree stump, remover.

Just a thought, a way to remove trees in the way of excavations, just use a stick or two of dynamite, blow them up.
This was the method used, on an excavation back in the sixties, on a site just West of Arundel.
Seems a good idea to me! Saves a lot of digging.I can see Con Ainsworth there now, “all stand back light the fuse” “BANG”. OPPS!

updates.6th March.

2006-03-06T03:32:00.000-08:00

Update 6th march
Patching.
Another successful weekend dig at Patching, the results are still inconclusive, much of the foundations of the house that stood on the site up until the late fifties has been uncovered, but signs of an early house on the site, have mostly evaded our investigations.
There maybe further work on the site at some date in the future.

Rewell Wood area .nr. Arundel.

Some surveying of this area has taken place over the past week, David Mc.Omish of English Heritage commented on the high standard of surveying undertaken by members of the field unit.
More work including some possible excavating will take place over the next few months.

Slindon 11th march.

Slindon village open day at Coronation Hall in Slindon Village.
This is an important day for the society; it is in conjunction with the Slindon History group, and the National Trust.
One of the oldest cottages in the village will be open to visitors before restoration, an opportunity to inspect one of these cottages.
Members of the village community will be bringing to the hall many old pictures and documents of the village and the estate, which will help us understand the working of the estate over the many hundred of years it has been there.
The open day will run from 10.30am until 4.30pm, all members are welcome to come along and see what is on view; there may well be some surprises.
On show will be many finds from the Upton collection, this alone will be of great interest.

March Update.

2006-03-02T03:47:00.000-08:00

Update March 2nd.

Over the weekend of the 4th-5th of March we will be working at Patching, this maybe the last time we visit the site, it is hoped that some of the questions will be answered, about the earlier building that preceded the building that was demolished in the early 60s.

Future work

This spring there will be a resitivity survey of the site of Sele Priory in Upper Beeding, this is a very interesting site with lots of history, see the Sele Priory web site. http://sele-priory.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk .
The aim of the survey will be to try to locate the watermill that once stood there, but disappeared some 500 years ago.
The work there is in conjunction with the Beeding history group.

Warminghurst

This month sees the start of some excavations within the area, this is for students of Sussex University who are on their M.A course, the Society is giving assistance where needed.Another interesting site has become known within the area, that of a moated site just north of the church, this is not Wolves farm site. There are details about the area at . http://warminghurst-history.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk

Updates February

2006-02-26T04:46:00.000-08:00

26-2-06
Patching update.

The results of the four day excavation is so far inconclusive, most of the material being uncovered is of the late 19th century to mid 20th century, and mostly house foundations and garden features.
There are two more days of excavations; if there is any material from early dates then it may turn up over theses two days. A interim report will be posted here later.

Binsted.

This year further work will be carried out on the kiln site; this will take place in late August for a two-week period.
Over the past year, research into the kiln that Con Ainsworth excavated in the 1960s, has been undertaken, and a lot of material has been unearthed.
From this material it may be possible to get the precise location of his kiln site, this is important as it will help us understand our later kiln site.We know it was under the willow tree, and north is shown on drawings, and an Aerial photo when blown up shows the excavation, so some survey work useing this photo will locate its precise location. Research has shown that the Littlehampton Archaeological and History Society now no longer, carried out some work on kiln sites within the area of Binsted, but the information is sketchy, this may well be how Con Ainsworth new about the site that he excavated.
More information is on Binsted web site.

Picture of Binsted kiln 1965-6 artist not known, found in arcives at Worthing museum.

http://binsted.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk

Field Unit.

2006-02-12T02:39:00.000-08:00

February 2005. Field Unit update.

Welcome to this site, over the coming weeks more will be added to the content, it is hoped that in the not to distant future that our new main web site will be up and running, this will contain newsletters past and present, as well as site reports and a picture library, and a host of other items.Click Profile to take you to my other sites.

The purpose of this site is to keep you up to date with what is happening within the field unit, and for your feedback.
You need to look at the site each week, but don’t worry you will still receive emails from the field unit as well, so at all times you will be fully be kept informed of what is going on and where
Non - Members.

For non- members who visit this site, you are welcome, and if you are interested in becoming a member of the society and the field unit, then please email for more information. arch.research@ntlworld.com

Patching.

Over the next few weeks the field unit will be undertaking an excavation in Patching village, the site may contain an early medieval building, but over the period of years it has been built over many times, so there will be a lot of unravelling to understand the site.

Patching Hoard.

Patching is now famous for the hoard of gold coins found there a few years ago, the coins which are very impressive are on display in Worthing museum, the Society gave a donation to the museum, towards the cost of the display.
The period of the coins is, Roman to Early Medieval/Dark Age - 43 AD to 1065 AD.

The Church.

The Church of St. John the Divine, Patching, is Early English with some Perpendicular work, but was restored in C19

Horse Engine.

A horse gin is situated in a field E. of Patching churchyard. It is a good example of a widespread type of Victorian
water-raising equipment. The mid-C19 cast-iron gin was worked by a horse walking around a still visible circular path.
This gin worked a three throw pump through a depth of 150 ft.

Roman Corn Drying Kiln.

Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD Near Patching pond.
A corn drying kiln associated with other structures was excavated by Con Ainsworth in 1974. Some photographs were
taken and plans and sections drawn. Finds included a wide range of pottery sherds and a small bronze brooch in the
shape of a fish, all last known to be in the possession of Con Ainsworth..

Con Ainsworth.

This is only a brief list of finds within the area, what is of interest is that Con Ainsworth had done a lot of work in the area, but to date most of the information he collected is missing, so it would be good to locate this most interesting information.