Discovering Neroche
Community history projects
Britty Farm
Ted Rooke (former inhabitant of Britty Farm) has provided a fascinating insight into life on a Blackdown Hills smallholding during the 1920s-1930s. Ted has also been working with the Neroche Local History Group who are planning to undertake some fieldwork at Britty in the New Year. The results of this will be published in the Community History Book in 2009.
| Further information: | |
| Grid Reference: | ST 257160 |
| Location: | Near Staple Hill |
| Contact: |
Tanya James tljames@somerset.gov.uk 07881 850 660 |
Deer Parks
A study of all the deer parks (at least seven in number) is currently being undertaken by Ian Clark. Ian and his team will be looking at the survival of these sites in the field as well as undertaking some documentary research.
| Contact: |
Tanya James tljames@somerset.gov.uk 07881 850660 |
Field Survey and Excavation at Playstreet, Bickenhall
Would you like to know more about the deserted Medieval settlement at Play Street, Bickenhall, once the home of Rachel Portman? Would you like to get some practical excavation experience and work with professional archaeologists?
The Neroche Community History Project will be running an excavation on the site of Play Street village between Monday 15th September and Sunday 28th September 2008.
We are looking for volunteers (for the minimum of one day) to help excavate and record the site or just help process the finds.
If you are interested and would like to book a free place or would just like more information please contact Tanya James (Neroche Community History Officer) on 07881 850660 or 01823 424040. Under 16 year olds must be accompanied by an adult (one adult per two children).
If you are interested but unable to participate site tours will be run every day at 2pm.
| Further information: | |
| Grid Reference: | ST 2823 1868 |
| Location: | In the field opposite Neroche Parish Hall |
| Contact: |
Tanya James tljames@somerset.gov.uk 07881 850660 |
Geophysical survey at Castle Neroche
Over the last couple of months Penny Cunningham and her team assisted, by some diligent local volunteers have been undertaking a geophysical survey of Castle Neroche and the surrounding fields. The survey involved the use of a magnetometer which measures changes in the earths magnetic field.
Preliminary results from the interior of the monument have been disappointing. It seems that the traces of recent fires (as part of the woodland management) interfer so much with the magnetometer recordings that no archaeological features could be determined. However more interesting features may have been found outside the monument. We await a report so watch this space!
| Further information: | |
| Grid Reference: | ST 2720 1580 |
| Location: | Castle Neroche |
Leigh Hill Somersetshire Militia summer encampment site
Tim Staples is currently receiving funding from the Neroche Scheme to to conserve the brick fireplace, which is all that remains of the Officer's Mess.
| Further information: | |
| Grid Reference: | ST 1950 1680 |
| Location: | Leigh Hill |
| Contact: |
Tanya James tljames@somerset.gov.uk 07881 850660 |
LiDAR
Quants Reservoir
Roy Coombs (local historian) has been researching Quants Reservoir for a number of years. He is interested in talking to anyone who can remember the intial construction phases of this unfinished reservoir.
| Contact: |
Tanya James tljames@somerset.gov.uk 07881 850660 |
