FAQsHow long is a digging session? 2 hours What happens if it rains? We suggest that you bring waterproof clothing if it looks as if it may rain. However, we will have several gazebos on site which can be erected in order to enable most activities to continue whilst you stay relatively dry. Can I bring my child? Children of 5 years and older can participate. Both they and an adult supervising them need to buy a ticket. All children under 18 years of age must be supervised by someone who is 18 years old or older. What is the difference between “Diggers/Sievers” and “Processers/Recorders?” Diggers will help to move soil carefully out of the trench (usually with a trowel – it is not heavy digging) to search for hidden remains from Hyde Abbey or the Bridewell (a prison which was built on part of the site after the destruction of the Abbey). For those who don’t want to dig, there is a lot of fun in finding the many small objects which the digger may have missed! Any finds will be passed on to the Finds Processing team who will give them a preliminary clean and, with advice from the experts, classify them into categories (i.e. glass, non-local stone, metal etc.) weigh them and record key information about them. Any significant items will be identified and recorded individually with dimensions, weight and significant detail. This may include drawing and/or photographing them. Which activity would work best for me? Most people would be able to take part in either activity but if your mobility is limited Finds Processing/Recording can be carried out whilst standing or sitting. As a Digger you would need to be able to get in and out of a trench – the trenches tend to be shallower earlier in the dig – and to bend down to dig with a trowel. As a Siever you would need to collect buckets of spoil (they don’t need to be full!) and stand to sieve them. We would, of course, be happy to look for a way to give anyone who would like to participate the opportunity to do so. So, if you think that you would face challenges in taking part but would nevertheless like to join in, please contact Susan Jones at [email protected] and then we can discuss how best to make the activity accessible to you. What is included in Hyde900 Membership? Membership provides reduced price entry to Hyde900 events, which includes cultural, social and history based activities. It enables members to take advantage of discounts on a range of materials published by both Hyde900 and external organisations. Items currently include:
All items for collection from Hyde, Winchester apart from Excavations at Hyde Abbey, Winchester, 1972-1999 (available from City Museum Winchester) Where is Hyde Abbey? Hyde Abbey is a short walk from the centre of Winchester, in the Hyde area. It is close to the River Park Leisure Centre car park. |
