The Hyde900 Community Dig returns for 2018!

The dates for your diary are April 27^th to 30^th

For the third annual Community Dig, we have been invited back to numbers 14 and 15 King Alfred Terrace (courtesy of Chris and Anne Prior, and Justine Field), as well as a completely new area at number 10 King Alfred Terrace (thanks to Chris Scott), to continue the exciting excavation of the abbey cloisters.

In 2017 the finds proved to be of international significance, and the display of part of a stone arch of the Norman cloister is destined for Winchester Museum.

Those who attended last year’s dig may remember that the stones from the Norman arch were found in an area next to the shed at number 14. Chris Prior will be moving the shed to allow us to explore the medieval wall and paved area that continued underneath it. Altogether there will be at least four new sites to excavate, all in the expected area of the Norman cloisters, so we are anticipating a fascinating dig.

Once again, Winchester Archaeological and Local History Group (WARG) will be providing a full roster of supervisors for all stages – digging, sieving, finds processing and recording, together with the equipment. David Ashby of the University of Winchester returns as advisor to the dig, and we are also extremely lucky that Dr John Crook, Consultant Archaeologist to Winchester Cathedral, will be with us again for the event.

We are delighted to be supported by  CBA Wessex and the Aviva Community Fund, and sponsored once again by Belgarum Estate Agents.  We look forward to welcoming their Managing Director, John Leeson, back once more to open the dig.

As before, the cameras will be there courtesy of Solent Moviemakers to record the highs and lows of the excavation. There will be a daily blog which will enable you to see all the action on the website as the dig progresses.

Please click here to book your session(s)

Reconstruction of the cloister arcade of Hyde Abbey (Photo Mike Caldwell)