Week One, 2nd – 7th Sept 2013

The first few days were spent being inducted into the company and getting to grips with my position. I looked at the previous community work undertaken by Headland such as the Ewyas Harrold Castle and Priory Archaeological Surveys to name but one. It is useful to know just how much time and investment goes into such undertakings and the different kinds of correspondence needed to establish the necessary connections and ultimately the right outcomes for the community. Particularly an outcome where all the voices have been heard.

Wednesday saw me to an evening meeting with the local ‘1^st Hereford (YMCA) Scout Group’ based a few streets away from my house to discuss an opportunity to earn their heritage badge and the Community Challenge Award badge. The group had established connections with Headland through the company’s track record of providing archaeology workshops for children. This time, however, the scouts are eager to investigate the history of their community around Bartonsham. We discussed a range of ideas and thought about the resources we had to hand, but the possibility of both resistity and topographic survey on the supposed Civil War entrenchment, ‘Row/Rowe Ditch’ or ‘Bartonsham Ditch’ only a stones throw away from their headquarters seemed to tick all the boxes.

Although this listed monument features on current maps along a well used dog walk few people seem to know of its existence, it having been bulldozed by a farmer some 20 years ago. Headland has already done a small amount of work on this feature so it was well known to us; however, it would appear that there has been a recent revival in its interest following a proposal by English Heritage for a community project here. I am interested to see how both these projects might develop together, watch this space.

Local street atlas: Hereford © Philip’s 2008. Edited by myself.

The 1695 Row Ditch (labelled ‘earthwork’ on this map and highlighted by red hashers) can be seen to fortify the meander of the River Wye along the same orientation as Park Street.

On Friday I met with a representative from the Woolhope Club, David Whitehead (Hon. Secretary), along with Andy Boucher. ‘The Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club’ is one of the oldest antiquarian societies in Britain dating back to 1851 and currently involving some c.600 members. Their wish is to encourage a younger membership and contribution to the club. We discussed the clubs history, membership and values in addition to my CBA placement and role within the Headland Company. In particular we focused on helping to develop further the clubs relationship with the Hereford Sixth Form College Archaeology Dept and the possibility of publishing their work within the clubs volumes. I am very much looking forward to establishing contact with the sixth form group as it was at this time in my life that I decided on a career in archaeology.

See the Woolhope Club website for more information on the club and about joining the society: http://www.woolhopeclub.org.uk/ 

In the afternoon I had a fantastic opportunity to publicize this placement with the unveiling of a new frame and display designed to transform one of Herefords lesser known monuments, a medieval tympanum incorporated into an alms house on St Owen St. It was unveiled by the Mayor of Hereford, Cllr Phill Edwards alongside Jennifer Davies, Chairman of Hereford Municipal Charities, and Andy Boucher from Headland Archaeology Ltd who produced the protective display. I acted as photographer which was an altogether new experience for me, and then proceeded to a small wine and food reception with a range of different town representatives and I had the pleasure of discussing my new role with said people. It was a great chance to publicize myself, the CBA placement, and the values of Headland in addition to being a pleasant and useful introduction to such events.

The display of the medieval tympanum unveiled by the Mayor of Hereford, Cllr Phill Edwards alongside Jennifer Davies, Chairman of Hereford municipal Charities, and Andy Boucher from Headland Archaeology Ltd. 

The display the medieval tympanum showing various members of the Hereford Council and Municipal Charities.

The following wine reception: pictured from left to right is the Mayor of Hereford, Cllr Phill Edwards, Paul Rogers, reporter for the Hereford Times; Jennifer Davies, Chairman of Hereford Municipal Charities; and myself.