Hyde900 Community Dig Archives

Community Dig group

community excavation project

Press Release – August

Posted on 20:18, August 26th, 2021 by Website Admin

COMMUNITY ARCHAEOLOGY DIG ATTRACTS OVER 250 DIGGERS

Hyde900’s fifth community dig attracted a record 260 people to dig last week in no less than five gardens close to the site of Hyde Abbey, Alfred the Great’s last resting place. The results exceeded all expectations, with finds of both abbey walls and floor surfaces from the medieval monastic buildings, with over 80 children taking part, the excitement was palpable as the finds mounted up.

Visitors who decided to take part in the digging included the mayor and local MP Steve Brine accompanied by his two children.

The expert archaeologists in charge chose locations for the trenches based upon extensive research supplemented by ground penetrating radar surveys carried out by David Ashby of the University of Winchester. The expert archaeologists in charge chose locations for the trenches based upon extensive research supplemented by ground penetrating radar surveys carried out by David Ashby of the University of Winchester.

Professor Martin Biddle looks closely at the finds from the trench supervised by his daughter Signe Biddle – flanked by experts (R to L) Dr John Crook and Tim Tatton -Brown

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Posted on 15:32, August 18th, 2021 by Website Admin

The 2021 Hyde900 Community Dig is now open from 8.30am Thursday 19th August

Running over the 19^th to 22^nd August, the dig is now open.! Bookings close each day at 8pm on the day prior to the day of the dig. However you can still take part by booking for any remaining days or by checking at the Support Marquee at the bottom of King Alfred Terrace to check whether there are any tickets still available.

The event is open to all, although under 18s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Full training will be given.

You can also visit the dig on the Open Day on Saturday August 21^st by checking in at the Support Marquee for a ticket. After your visit to the dig you could also spend some time at the nearby St Bartholomew’s Church Open day . Founded in 1110 as the chapel for servants and lay visitors to the great medieval Hyde Abbey, St Bartholomew’s Church is now the only building associated with the Abbey that is still in working use. It is home to some remarkable medieval sculpture from the Abbey.

This year’s event takes place in what was the Inner Precinct of Hyde Abbey, and once again we are exploring both the remains of the abbey’s medieval cloisters, and the area previously occupied by the 19^th century County Bridewell (prison)

For further information about the dig click HERE

For the Support Marquee location and public parking details please click HERE

A capital from Hyde Abbey cloisters on display in the church

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Posted on 17:36, July 6th, 2021 by Website Admin

Bookings now open for the 2021 Hyde900 Community Dig August 19 to 22

Hyde900 are organising a fifth community dig event to take place August 19^th to 22^nd following previous years’ highly successful events. This year’s event returns to what was the Inner Precinct of Hyde Abbey, on the outskirts of Winchester, and once again we are exploring the remains of the abbey’s medieval cloisters.

We already have enough householders offering their gardens to be confident that this year’s dig will reveal more about the layout and architecture of the abbey. We anticipate that once again finds from the dig will help illuminate the life of the inhabitants of the abbey, which flourished from 1110 to the Dissolution in 1538/9.

We very much hope you will take part or visit the dig on the Open Day on Saturday August 21st.

The event is open to all, although under 18s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Full training will be given.
The cost per 2 hour session is £12 unless you are a member of Hyde900, in which case the cost is £8. Children 11 and under are free.
Membership of Hyde900 costs £10/year for individual members, £15/year for households.
Please click HERE to book your session(s) You can take advantage of the reduced fees for members by joining on line when you make your booking(s).

Previous digs have established the locations of the east and south sets of cloister buildings. What is still unknown is the position and extent of the west arm of the cloister. This is where, traditionally, the cellarer operated and had his storerooms. It also sometimes housed the monk’s dormitory – or was accommodation for the abbot.

However for a grand monastery such as Hyde, having at one time a mitred abbot, it is likely that in later years that he would have had separate accommodation – perhaps in the two storied building found just outside the cloister area at last year’s dig. We will be exploring an adjacent area during the dig.

Another new area to be explored is the south end of the east range of cloister buildings. This was the typical location for the monks’ dormitory – which often had the washing and toilet facilities – so we might just be finding the foundations for the abbey’s latrines!

To read the latest press releases click HERE

For answers to Frequently Asked questions about participating in the dig please click HERE

For the dig location and public parking details please click HERE