2022/23 Annual Report
This proved a difficult year initially, as despite the lifting of Covid restrictions there was a continued reluctance by many organisations to facilitate archaeological activities and amongst sections of the public to attend such events. Never the less we managed to revive our regular coffee mornings with some interesting variations; to welcome guest speakers; embark on our own excavations; organize our annual residential away trip to Tewkesbury; and to attract a membership of over 80. In addition we have been able to keep in almost daily email contact not only with members, but a far wider interest group, providing a regular news service on archaeological developments, along with introductions to the wealth of information available online.
The year saw us organize plenty of local archaeology walks led by Dorne Coggins or Mick Graves, all attracting a good turnout, as did a walk by Robert Allcroft on Stanton Moor. Group visits included guided tours of Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, Anglo Saxon Bakewell, and the National Coal Mining Museum. Guest speakers provided talks on the work of a Medieval barber-surgeon, on Medieval clothes and most recently on Beauchief Abbey. In July we also ran a stall about our group and our finds, at a public event in Conisborough Castle.
During the year several members took part individually in digs and other archaeological activities arranged by other organisations. Sadly the decision by Whirlow Farm not to plough any land meant we were unable to organize any fieldwalking and no community based professional digs took place locally during the year. However we did ourselves organize a series of three increasingly popular ‘test pit’ digs, both as a training activity for new members, and to refresh our troweling skills. These took place in two Dore back gardens and on the Abbeydale model railway site. These established the deposition of industrial slag on one site, possible Roman pottery at the railway and a typical assembly of Victorian pottery on the third.
The committee has continued to meet regularly, maintained contact with other groups such as Friends of Graves Park, and kept alive projects and initiatives that might have otherwise lapsed. Our Roman Landscape Group continues to thrive with regular walks and meetings debating the evidence of local Roman activity.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow committee members for their hard work and commitment. We hope in the year ahead we can get back to a full schedule of activities and reflect the wide interests of our members.
John Baker
Chairman
April 2023
The year saw us organize plenty of local archaeology walks led by Dorne Coggins or Mick Graves, all attracting a good turnout, as did a walk by Robert Allcroft on Stanton Moor. Group visits included guided tours of Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, Anglo Saxon Bakewell, and the National Coal Mining Museum. Guest speakers provided talks on the work of a Medieval barber-surgeon, on Medieval clothes and most recently on Beauchief Abbey. In July we also ran a stall about our group and our finds, at a public event in Conisborough Castle.
During the year several members took part individually in digs and other archaeological activities arranged by other organisations. Sadly the decision by Whirlow Farm not to plough any land meant we were unable to organize any fieldwalking and no community based professional digs took place locally during the year. However we did ourselves organize a series of three increasingly popular ‘test pit’ digs, both as a training activity for new members, and to refresh our troweling skills. These took place in two Dore back gardens and on the Abbeydale model railway site. These established the deposition of industrial slag on one site, possible Roman pottery at the railway and a typical assembly of Victorian pottery on the third.
The committee has continued to meet regularly, maintained contact with other groups such as Friends of Graves Park, and kept alive projects and initiatives that might have otherwise lapsed. Our Roman Landscape Group continues to thrive with regular walks and meetings debating the evidence of local Roman activity.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow committee members for their hard work and commitment. We hope in the year ahead we can get back to a full schedule of activities and reflect the wide interests of our members.
John Baker
Chairman
April 2023
2024/25 Annual Report
Like many similar community groups, we are feeling the effect of both an aging membership and the reduced scope for practical archaeological activities. This has led us to a shift away from practical hands-on archaeology towards increasing social activities and the use of electronic media for the communication and publication of archaeological and historical information. Never the less, our public meetings have been well attended with a notable increase in visitors and a steady flow of new members. Currently we have a paid-up membership of over 80, with an email news service sending them, and a further 160 interested contacts, items of news, events and sources of archaeological and historical information.
We started the year at our AGM with a talk on The Medieval Kitchen, then a tour of Ecclesall Church Yard and a talk on Woodland Heritage Archaeology by an archaeologist on the Graves Park project. The winter programme started with a tour of and visit to Bakewell, followed by our hosting guest speakers covering a range of subjects from Rome Wasn’t Built in an evening to Hathersage & the Little John Connection, from Medieval and Tudor Sanitation/Personal Hygiene! to New Discoveries at Sheffield Castle. In addition, we increased the frequency of, our regular Friday coffee mornings, talking, sharing and enjoying every aspect of archaeology
During the year we have also undertaken a group visit to Southwell Workhouse, run a What have we found? exhibition/event as our contribution to the annual CBA Festival of Archaeology and led both a Lead, Coal, Buttons and Bricks walk around Dore and a Stepping back into history walk in Ecclesall Woods. In September 32 members took part in our annual residential away trip, exploring the area around Shrewsbury in Shropshire. Preparations are now well in hand for a trip to Chollerford in Northumberland this coming autumn.
Practical archaeology this year has revolved around a series of three ‘test pits’ in local gardens, providing experience and practice but sadly yielding little of archaeological interest. There has been little opportunity for metal detecting and dowsing. Some members were involved in the ‘Pastronaut Project’ interpreting Lidar surveys for archaeological features but were bemused by the lack of information and opportunity to do confirmation site visits. Sadly, there were no local opportunities for us to work as a group on archaeological digs this year, but several members did take part individually in digs and other archaeological activities arranged by sister organisations.
The committee continues to meet monthly, maintaining contact with other groups such as Friends of Ecclesall Woods, and keeping an eye on local projects and initiatives that might be of interest. In addition to our regular news emails, we have published articles about our activities in local community magazines and maintained our own website. Our Roman Landscape Group are currently working to prepare and publish a report on their findings to date.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to my fellow committee members for their time, hard work and commitment to the group. That said we would still welcome further volunteers to join the committee or take on individual tasks. Together we hope that in the year ahead, we can offer a full schedule of activities reflecting the wide interests of our members.
John Baker (Chairman)
April 2025
here to edit.
Like many similar community groups, we are feeling the effect of both an aging membership and the reduced scope for practical archaeological activities. This has led us to a shift away from practical hands-on archaeology towards increasing social activities and the use of electronic media for the communication and publication of archaeological and historical information. Never the less, our public meetings have been well attended with a notable increase in visitors and a steady flow of new members. Currently we have a paid-up membership of over 80, with an email news service sending them, and a further 160 interested contacts, items of news, events and sources of archaeological and historical information.
We started the year at our AGM with a talk on The Medieval Kitchen, then a tour of Ecclesall Church Yard and a talk on Woodland Heritage Archaeology by an archaeologist on the Graves Park project. The winter programme started with a tour of and visit to Bakewell, followed by our hosting guest speakers covering a range of subjects from Rome Wasn’t Built in an evening to Hathersage & the Little John Connection, from Medieval and Tudor Sanitation/Personal Hygiene! to New Discoveries at Sheffield Castle. In addition, we increased the frequency of, our regular Friday coffee mornings, talking, sharing and enjoying every aspect of archaeology
During the year we have also undertaken a group visit to Southwell Workhouse, run a What have we found? exhibition/event as our contribution to the annual CBA Festival of Archaeology and led both a Lead, Coal, Buttons and Bricks walk around Dore and a Stepping back into history walk in Ecclesall Woods. In September 32 members took part in our annual residential away trip, exploring the area around Shrewsbury in Shropshire. Preparations are now well in hand for a trip to Chollerford in Northumberland this coming autumn.
Practical archaeology this year has revolved around a series of three ‘test pits’ in local gardens, providing experience and practice but sadly yielding little of archaeological interest. There has been little opportunity for metal detecting and dowsing. Some members were involved in the ‘Pastronaut Project’ interpreting Lidar surveys for archaeological features but were bemused by the lack of information and opportunity to do confirmation site visits. Sadly, there were no local opportunities for us to work as a group on archaeological digs this year, but several members did take part individually in digs and other archaeological activities arranged by sister organisations.
The committee continues to meet monthly, maintaining contact with other groups such as Friends of Ecclesall Woods, and keeping an eye on local projects and initiatives that might be of interest. In addition to our regular news emails, we have published articles about our activities in local community magazines and maintained our own website. Our Roman Landscape Group are currently working to prepare and publish a report on their findings to date.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to my fellow committee members for their time, hard work and commitment to the group. That said we would still welcome further volunteers to join the committee or take on individual tasks. Together we hope that in the year ahead, we can offer a full schedule of activities reflecting the wide interests of our members.
John Baker (Chairman)
April 2025
here to edit.