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National Lottery grant will help solve Bartonsham meadow mystery

23/2/2017

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The line of the Row Ditch
A mysterious earthwork running along Bartonsham Meadows is to be investigated thanks to a £10,000 Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant. A group of local enthusiasts formed the Bartonsham Row Ditch Community Archaeology Project with the support of Historic England and Hereford City Council & now, thanks to National Lottery players, the Project will oversee the first ever scientific investigation into the distinctive, but enigmatic, earthwork called the Row Ditch. 
 
Formerly a high bank and deep ditch situated in Bartonsham Meadows, to the south-east of Hereford city centre, the remains of the earthwork, a scheduled ancient monument, can still be traced at the back of Park Street. Currently on Historic England's “At Risk Register”, due to neglect and farming activity, it is marked on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1888 as an “Intrenchment Constructed by the Scotch Army AD1645”, but other evidence suggests the Row Ditch has a much older history.
 
The Project's chair, Ian Broom said: “The grant will help us understand the purpose and origins of the feature. We will be working with the community and involving young people from St James' CofE Primary School and Hereford Sixth Form College, to develop a better understanding of the feature in the history of the environs of Hereford's medieval city. Bartonsham Meadows is an area popular with local residents and many have speculated on the origin of the Row Ditch. Is it a Civil War defence? A flood drain? A part of Offa's Dyke? A feature of a medieval field management system, or something else? We are very pleased to have been awarded this grant and our thanks go to those who made it possible by participating in the National Lottery.”
 
Herefordshire Archaeology, part of Herefordshire Council, has been appointed to provide management expertise and leadership in meeting the Project's objectives. Archaeologist Tim Hoverd said; “This is fantastic news! We are really looking forward to working with the local community to hopefully solve the mystery of Row Ditch. We hope that the excavations will be able to tell us exactly what this monument was used for and when it was being used.”  
 
Local people will be given the opportunity to experience and participate in a professionally managed investigation within the community. Building on preliminary work already conducted, the project will include the digging of surface trenches, deeper augering and analysis of the results. At the end of the project, a report will be published and an interpretation board installed on site for the information of visitors and residents to raise awareness and appreciation of the area.
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Vanessa Harbar, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands, said: “Sharing Heritage is a wonderful opportunity for communities to delve into their local heritage and we are delighted to be able to offer this grant so that The Bartonsham Row Ditch Community Archaeology Project can embark on a real journey of discovery. Heritage means such different things to different people, and HLF’s funding offers a wealth of opportunities for groups to explore and celebrate what’s important to them in their area.”

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Gillian Bate & Ian Broom discussing plans for the Project with local residents Michael & Pete

Listren to Ian being interviewed by Nicola from BBCH&W

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Kyrle Street homes for the industrious

11/2/2017

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A planning application to demolish historic cottages built by John Venn on Kyrle Street has been turned down by Herefordshire Council. The Masonic Housing Trust had applied to demolish the two existing dwellings to facilitate redevelopment of 9 residential apartments with associated car parking, cycles and refuse stores.

We are pleased to publish a fascinating article by local historian and author Jean O'Donnell MBE on the history of these buildings.
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The future of Castle Green - an invite

9/2/2017

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You may already know that The Friends of Castle Green is delighted to have been awarded a grant by The Big Lottery Fund Awards for All to carry out a year long city-wide consultation process to determine the future of Castle Green and the surrounding area.
 
The Friends would like to invite members of the History Group and a friend to a World Cafe Event to have their say on 'Planning the Future: Castle Green in the 21st Century'. They hope to bring together a good cross section of people to facilitate a discussion on what people want to happen to the area and how we go about achieving these objectives.

There will be a series of events throughout the year, and there are currently spaces on the evenings of 8th March and 22nd March. The evening will begin at 7.30pm at The Pavilion on Castle Green with food provided, but please bring your own drinks.

The Friends are limited on numbers so if interested you need to RSVP using the attached form as soon as possible and no later than 24th February. The only stipulation is an open mind and plenty of ideas!

For more information contact: - 

Katie Bott
Operations Manager
Friends of Castle Green
07939 261640
operations@friendsofcastlegreen.org.uk
rsvp_form_march_dates.doc
File Size: 102 kb
File Type: doc
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More links with Nuneaton

3/2/2017

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Some exciting news from rev Dawn Waterton from Nuneaton. Readers may remember research by Green Street's Naomi Bell about the links between this church and our own St. James. 

"I am part of a group of people at All Saints Church Chilvers Coton, Nuneaton, who are working on a new guide book for the church along with plans to celebrate, in September this year, the 70th anniversary of the re-dedication of the church in 1947, after the bombing during WW2."

"I was amazed to read on your website that St James, Bartonsham is linked to All Saints Chilvers Coton, and actually played a part in the rebuilding."

"I wonder if you could possibly [get in touch] as I'm sure we will have lots to talk about, and we would love you to be a part of our celebrations."

Stand by for further developments...
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