After the hectic long weekend which in our part of the world is known as Fairport's Cropredy Convention we managed to turn things round and focus on the Big Dig. On Sunday 10th. the first of our volunteers started to arrive from far and wide... well Belgium and Warwickshire to be precise. After a truly dreadful morning of torrential rain on the Sunday Monday 11th. dawned fair albeit a little blustery. Anyway by 9.00 a.m. our forces were marshaled and we began with the health and safety briefing and then a tour of the grounds. This was pretty well concluded in time for morning coffee. Afterwards Peter had a team at work alongside Christopher preparing the ground in the vicinity of the Temple of Flora whilst everyone else started more clearing along the line of the section through the Great East Terrace. At lunchtime it emerged it was Sarah's birthday so Lisa slipped away and returned in time for tea with a birthday cake for her! What a star. Well eventually we made it back to work and Verna had a group who did a fantastic job in tidying up the second sluice area.
Sarah is presented with her birthday cake... phew we're too full of cake to go back to work.
Emma begins to get to grips with the section through the Great East Terrace whilst Peter has prepared the ground with careful terracing so we can proceed stepwise with the excavation.
Verna's afternoon crew clean up down on the Second Sluice...
A what a marvelous result, oops hang on I think I can see a stray leaf somewhere!
TUESDAY 12th.
A new arrival, Sebastian joined us having heroically caught the train to Banbury the walked out to Hanwell. Otherwise Verna was occupied catching up with recording on the newly cleaned Second Sluice area (see above) whilst Peter's team battled roots until Christopher came along with his chain saw and settled the business. On the long terrace section Kathryn and Viv did a marvelous job on tidying up the lower stony scatter ready for drawing whilst Emma and her cohorts got to grips with the optical level and started on the massive job of drawing a profile through the earthworks along the line of the trench.
What a fantastic job, every stone pristine. A little later on Viv ponders a new line of stones whilst Emma juggles tape and staff.
Peter's crew are caught clearing roots. The bucket contains 5,231 snowdrop rescued bulbs, Peter tells me he counted them all.
And under one of them was this beautifully dressed block of ashlar. the end of day, tools down and back to base camp.
THURSDAY 14th.
Well the weather forecast really let us down today. We were expecting heavy storms through the afternoon and it remained stubbornly fine. Unlike the morning when we were plagued by repeated showers causing us to take shelter on a couple of occasions. It was particularly challenging on the steep slope on the great East Terrace which started to resemble a ski slope. Nevertheless we made good progress more stones at the bottom of the slope and deep deep deposits at the top. Quite different to the Temple of Flora where efforts gradually revealed more about the wall plunging down the slope. Down on the Second Sluice elevations were drawn and more rubble shifted so Sam could demonstrate his dry stone wall building skills. Anyway we halted at 12.30 for lunch then headed over early to the National Herb Centre at Warmington to visit the Roman site there and dodge the on-coming downpour. This dig organised by the Warmington Heritage Group and directed by David Freke has made some remarkable discoveries over the past few years and we were fascinated by David's lucid and entertaining tour then we waited for it to rain... but it didn't. The day ended with multiple trips to various supermarkets and pizza back in Cropredy.
Shereen shows just how enjoyable elevation drawing can be whilst Sebastian wonders what it's all about.
All hands to the pumps, no that should be spades, delving into the great East Terrace.
Visiting the Romans at Warmington: it looks like the start of an archaeology race and David explains the finds from the pit.
FRIDAY 15th.
Once again the weather forecast is totally adrift. We were expecting showers all day and wet evening, in fact as it worked out it was pretty pleasant all day until about 9.00 p.m. Some comings and goings amongst the volunteers but still good progress being made with Verna's group drawing elevations and chasing after rubble filled channels whilst Peter's team continued to record and clarify the various walls that comprise the Temple of Flora. On the long section after huge amounts of digging of fairly undifferentiated hill-washed silts (?) a few slight indications of possible paving showed up half way down the slope. Emma and her helpers worked valiantly on trying to tease out assorted banks of rubble towards the bottom of the terracing.
Verna discusses some key point of strategy with Christopher. Down at the Temple everyone is busy and Elizabeth gets to grips with plan drawing.
Oddly on this photo the trench looks surprisingly level, you wouldn't think that one false step could send them rolling down the slope!
Verna is getting set up for a site photograph on the Second Sluice whilst Samuel examines the latest find... or possibly his fingernails.
MONDAY 18th.
The weekend saw large scale barbecuing on Saturday evening for all comers, pleasant enough but not quite the right weather for it, whilst on Sunday after lunch we drove everyone up to visit the reconstructed Elizabethan garden at Kenilworth Castle and discuss topics such as viewing terraces, the mutability of wooden garden fittings and cold showers for gentlemen, all of this rounded off by English Heritage's best quality tea and cakes.
Emma and Sam in a hurry to explore Kenilworth's Elizabethan garden.
Monday morning saw us hard at work with possibly our greatest number of volunteers to date, sixteen of us all told I believe and plenty of progress made. Walls are really becoming very well defined on Peter's patch whilst Emma put in another valiant performance trying to unscramble drifts of tumbled rubble ( as well as spending an extra few hours teasing it out over the weekend, thanks Emma.). the extra help meant we were also able to take another skim off the surface of the moated platform whilst Verna's team shifted serious rubble upstream of the second sluice. Finally it was to the island with Sam and Sebastian completing one section and starting another in a vain attempt to confirm our hypothesis about an extended stone paving underneath a greater portion of the platform... didn't happen.
Camp and car park... just thought it was worth a couple of photos for the record.
Shereen's beautifully dug wall - north side, Sarah is doing an equally brilliant job on the same wall - south side. Meanwhile searching for flower beds Christine and Sophie.
Heroes both, Samuel and Emma contemplate the mysteries of the great east terrace section.
Sebastian sets to on a new section to the north of Sir Anthony's Bath followed by lunch on the logs.
WEDNESDAY 20th.
Well, a day of big departures, all of our campers were packing up to leave, leaving behind only memories and patches of yellow grass... hmmmm, this is sounding a little maudlin... Anyway, excitement on site where at the top of the section through the East Terrace we finally found some walling to match the beautifully preserved section in Peter's area. Sarah and Shereen had been cleaning round a bit of a brick and it was only moments after they had left to help Verna with some drawing that the remains of the tumbled wall began to emerge. The curious little wall running down the slope from the Temple of Flora was shown by Phillip to have a fairly massive foundation underpinning it, what was it for?
The party's over... well almost. Sebastian tackles the job of revealing the new wall.
Foundations emerge beyond the Temple of Flora. A symphony in string, elevation drawing down on the Second Sluice.
Whilst a few stalwarts dug on through the afternoon several of us were treated to a trip to Christ Church College with Rowena and Christopher. After seeing Rowena's study we were lead, against the flow of one way traffic and circumventing the lengthy queue of shuffling tourists, up into the magnificent dining hall. Fortuitously we also bumped into the college archivist who was extremely kind and offered to unlock the marvelous library for us to take a look round. We also took in the cathedral - interesting to see some medieval decorated floor tiles in situ - Deadman's Walk, the Danby Gate of 1633 to the Botanical Gardens and of course Blackwells and the Covered Market. Many many thanks to Rowena for sorting this out for us.
... and thanks to Christopher for this team photo in Christ Church meadows.
THURSDAY 21st.
It all seemed quite quiet today with most of our campers having departed... Sebastian lingers on. Nevertheless a number of 'wow' moments down at the Temple of Flora as the full details of the relationship between the two walls became clearer. Lots of features including further impressive foundations. The Second Sluice saw loads of drawing and a start made on the removal of a later blocking to the channel. More work on the tumbled wall remains at the top of the big East Terrace section proved very revealing. We also laid on a spot of extra training on finds processing and Christine braved the boat to experience the island with Sir Anthony's Bath. Actually she made two suggestions as to it's possible function neither of which had come up before. Firstly she enquired whether it could have been a hiding place or perhaps a secret strongroom for some kind of valuable goods then she went on to ask if given the scientific background of the gardens it could have been used for a particular kind of explosive experiment or perhaps storing unusually dangerous substances. Food for thought most certainly.
Everyone's at it, drawing down at the Second Sluice. The crucial junction between the two walls at the Temple of Flora becomes clearer.
Not a great photo but just to show we have big rubble too at the top of the East Terrace section, better views tomorrow.
A new arrival, Sebastian joined us having heroically caught the train to Banbury the walked out to Hanwell. Otherwise Verna was occupied catching up with recording on the newly cleaned Second Sluice area (see above) whilst Peter's team battled roots until Christopher came along with his chain saw and settled the business. On the long terrace section Kathryn and Viv did a marvelous job on tidying up the lower stony scatter ready for drawing whilst Emma and her cohorts got to grips with the optical level and started on the massive job of drawing a profile through the earthworks along the line of the trench.
What a fantastic job, every stone pristine. A little later on Viv ponders a new line of stones whilst Emma juggles tape and staff.
Peter's crew are caught clearing roots. The bucket contains 5,231 snowdrop rescued bulbs, Peter tells me he counted them all.
And under one of them was this beautifully dressed block of ashlar. the end of day, tools down and back to base camp.
WEDNESDAY 13th.
The weather continued to be bright and breezy and with the arrival of Isabel and Naomi our naval experts we were able to get the ferry up and running and start work on the island by bailing out Sir Anthony's Bath and weeding out some of the recent under growth. Verna's group were busy down on the Second Sluice with further tidying up then a start was made on drawing elevations while the section edge on the north-west side was straightened out. Emma worked on mastering the recording for the great section through the East Terrace by completing the leveled profile, drawing a plan of the lower spreads of rubble and starting work on the context sheets. At the Temple of Flora Peter also cracked on with recording but his diggers were also able to further clear the walling running down the slope. The snowdrop total is now astronomical and in order not to swamp the rest of the colony the spoil is being spread broadcast style so there are just a few centimetres spread across the slope.
Isobel and Naomi re float the dinghy and once on the island set to to tidy it up.
Meanwhile Peter sets to labeling whilst Verna's crew start to unscramble the Second Sluice.
... and later on there's time for tea.
At the end of day we took everyone for a short walk to see the most remarkable find made during the course of building work in a nearby cottage. Buried face down in walls around the building were blocks of stone which when removed turned out to have sculpture of the reverse face. When these had been extracted they were put together jigsaw style to reveal.... the arms of King Henry VIII or possibly Edward VI. This is a find of tremendous importance, possibly of national significance, the quality is of the highest and stylistically it reflects the new aesthetics of the Renaissance. We are hoping to pull together a panel of experts to advise on where we go next with this remarkable piece.
The diggers stand round impressed as Christopher points out a salient feature.
...and here it all is in all its glory.
The weather continued to be bright and breezy and with the arrival of Isabel and Naomi our naval experts we were able to get the ferry up and running and start work on the island by bailing out Sir Anthony's Bath and weeding out some of the recent under growth. Verna's group were busy down on the Second Sluice with further tidying up then a start was made on drawing elevations while the section edge on the north-west side was straightened out. Emma worked on mastering the recording for the great section through the East Terrace by completing the leveled profile, drawing a plan of the lower spreads of rubble and starting work on the context sheets. At the Temple of Flora Peter also cracked on with recording but his diggers were also able to further clear the walling running down the slope. The snowdrop total is now astronomical and in order not to swamp the rest of the colony the spoil is being spread broadcast style so there are just a few centimetres spread across the slope.
Isobel and Naomi re float the dinghy and once on the island set to to tidy it up.
Meanwhile Peter sets to labeling whilst Verna's crew start to unscramble the Second Sluice.
... and later on there's time for tea.
At the end of day we took everyone for a short walk to see the most remarkable find made during the course of building work in a nearby cottage. Buried face down in walls around the building were blocks of stone which when removed turned out to have sculpture of the reverse face. When these had been extracted they were put together jigsaw style to reveal.... the arms of King Henry VIII or possibly Edward VI. This is a find of tremendous importance, possibly of national significance, the quality is of the highest and stylistically it reflects the new aesthetics of the Renaissance. We are hoping to pull together a panel of experts to advise on where we go next with this remarkable piece.
The diggers stand round impressed as Christopher points out a salient feature.
...and here it all is in all its glory.
THURSDAY 14th.
Well the weather forecast really let us down today. We were expecting heavy storms through the afternoon and it remained stubbornly fine. Unlike the morning when we were plagued by repeated showers causing us to take shelter on a couple of occasions. It was particularly challenging on the steep slope on the great East Terrace which started to resemble a ski slope. Nevertheless we made good progress more stones at the bottom of the slope and deep deep deposits at the top. Quite different to the Temple of Flora where efforts gradually revealed more about the wall plunging down the slope. Down on the Second Sluice elevations were drawn and more rubble shifted so Sam could demonstrate his dry stone wall building skills. Anyway we halted at 12.30 for lunch then headed over early to the National Herb Centre at Warmington to visit the Roman site there and dodge the on-coming downpour. This dig organised by the Warmington Heritage Group and directed by David Freke has made some remarkable discoveries over the past few years and we were fascinated by David's lucid and entertaining tour then we waited for it to rain... but it didn't. The day ended with multiple trips to various supermarkets and pizza back in Cropredy.
Shereen shows just how enjoyable elevation drawing can be whilst Sebastian wonders what it's all about.
All hands to the pumps, no that should be spades, delving into the great East Terrace.
Visiting the Romans at Warmington: it looks like the start of an archaeology race and David explains the finds from the pit.
FRIDAY 15th.
Once again the weather forecast is totally adrift. We were expecting showers all day and wet evening, in fact as it worked out it was pretty pleasant all day until about 9.00 p.m. Some comings and goings amongst the volunteers but still good progress being made with Verna's group drawing elevations and chasing after rubble filled channels whilst Peter's team continued to record and clarify the various walls that comprise the Temple of Flora. On the long section after huge amounts of digging of fairly undifferentiated hill-washed silts (?) a few slight indications of possible paving showed up half way down the slope. Emma and her helpers worked valiantly on trying to tease out assorted banks of rubble towards the bottom of the terracing.
Verna discusses some key point of strategy with Christopher. Down at the Temple everyone is busy and Elizabeth gets to grips with plan drawing.
Oddly on this photo the trench looks surprisingly level, you wouldn't think that one false step could send them rolling down the slope!
Verna is getting set up for a site photograph on the Second Sluice whilst Samuel examines the latest find... or possibly his fingernails.
The weekend saw large scale barbecuing on Saturday evening for all comers, pleasant enough but not quite the right weather for it, whilst on Sunday after lunch we drove everyone up to visit the reconstructed Elizabethan garden at Kenilworth Castle and discuss topics such as viewing terraces, the mutability of wooden garden fittings and cold showers for gentlemen, all of this rounded off by English Heritage's best quality tea and cakes.
Emma and Sam in a hurry to explore Kenilworth's Elizabethan garden.
Monday morning saw us hard at work with possibly our greatest number of volunteers to date, sixteen of us all told I believe and plenty of progress made. Walls are really becoming very well defined on Peter's patch whilst Emma put in another valiant performance trying to unscramble drifts of tumbled rubble ( as well as spending an extra few hours teasing it out over the weekend, thanks Emma.). the extra help meant we were also able to take another skim off the surface of the moated platform whilst Verna's team shifted serious rubble upstream of the second sluice. Finally it was to the island with Sam and Sebastian completing one section and starting another in a vain attempt to confirm our hypothesis about an extended stone paving underneath a greater portion of the platform... didn't happen.
Camp and car park... just thought it was worth a couple of photos for the record.
Shereen's beautifully dug wall - north side, Sarah is doing an equally brilliant job on the same wall - south side. Meanwhile searching for flower beds Christine and Sophie.
Heroes both, Samuel and Emma contemplate the mysteries of the great east terrace section.
Sebastian sets to on a new section to the north of Sir Anthony's Bath followed by lunch on the logs.
TUESDAY 19th.
We've been quite lucky with the weather really given the number of showers forecast there has been little disruption to our programme of work except at the end of the day today, round about 3.45 the heavens opened with the added ingredient of hail and lots of people got wet. We rushed to tidy up and then the sun broke out and everything started steaming. Oh well. On site there was lots of recording done down on the Second Sluice and plenty of dirt shifted on the East Terrace section. More walling was defined in Peter's trench and a particularly nice fragment of decorated medieval tile was discovered by Samuel. We were also pleased to welcome Kate who had dug in the Middle East and who found our sites... damp. It was Tuesday so that saw our finds department in action, thanks as ever to Pat and Albert for helping out. Later that evening Rowena and Christopher were kind enough to host a second barbecue for us and amazingly the sun shone, still by the time the sun dipped it was getting chilly so folks were able to enjoy the warmth of a log fire indoors.
Who would imagine you could have so much fun with a washing up bowl? Sarah and Shereen finish off the hunt for flowerbeds... nothing.
Guest digger in action at the Temple of Flora, the management stands about as Kate gets stuck in and Samuel proudly displays the find of the day.
The Second Sluice, action: a) upstream and b) downstream.
We've been quite lucky with the weather really given the number of showers forecast there has been little disruption to our programme of work except at the end of the day today, round about 3.45 the heavens opened with the added ingredient of hail and lots of people got wet. We rushed to tidy up and then the sun broke out and everything started steaming. Oh well. On site there was lots of recording done down on the Second Sluice and plenty of dirt shifted on the East Terrace section. More walling was defined in Peter's trench and a particularly nice fragment of decorated medieval tile was discovered by Samuel. We were also pleased to welcome Kate who had dug in the Middle East and who found our sites... damp. It was Tuesday so that saw our finds department in action, thanks as ever to Pat and Albert for helping out. Later that evening Rowena and Christopher were kind enough to host a second barbecue for us and amazingly the sun shone, still by the time the sun dipped it was getting chilly so folks were able to enjoy the warmth of a log fire indoors.
Who would imagine you could have so much fun with a washing up bowl? Sarah and Shereen finish off the hunt for flowerbeds... nothing.
Guest digger in action at the Temple of Flora, the management stands about as Kate gets stuck in and Samuel proudly displays the find of the day.
The Second Sluice, action: a) upstream and b) downstream.
WEDNESDAY 20th.
Well, a day of big departures, all of our campers were packing up to leave, leaving behind only memories and patches of yellow grass... hmmmm, this is sounding a little maudlin... Anyway, excitement on site where at the top of the section through the East Terrace we finally found some walling to match the beautifully preserved section in Peter's area. Sarah and Shereen had been cleaning round a bit of a brick and it was only moments after they had left to help Verna with some drawing that the remains of the tumbled wall began to emerge. The curious little wall running down the slope from the Temple of Flora was shown by Phillip to have a fairly massive foundation underpinning it, what was it for?
The party's over... well almost. Sebastian tackles the job of revealing the new wall.
Foundations emerge beyond the Temple of Flora. A symphony in string, elevation drawing down on the Second Sluice.
Whilst a few stalwarts dug on through the afternoon several of us were treated to a trip to Christ Church College with Rowena and Christopher. After seeing Rowena's study we were lead, against the flow of one way traffic and circumventing the lengthy queue of shuffling tourists, up into the magnificent dining hall. Fortuitously we also bumped into the college archivist who was extremely kind and offered to unlock the marvelous library for us to take a look round. We also took in the cathedral - interesting to see some medieval decorated floor tiles in situ - Deadman's Walk, the Danby Gate of 1633 to the Botanical Gardens and of course Blackwells and the Covered Market. Many many thanks to Rowena for sorting this out for us.
... and thanks to Christopher for this team photo in Christ Church meadows.
THURSDAY 21st.
It all seemed quite quiet today with most of our campers having departed... Sebastian lingers on. Nevertheless a number of 'wow' moments down at the Temple of Flora as the full details of the relationship between the two walls became clearer. Lots of features including further impressive foundations. The Second Sluice saw loads of drawing and a start made on the removal of a later blocking to the channel. More work on the tumbled wall remains at the top of the big East Terrace section proved very revealing. We also laid on a spot of extra training on finds processing and Christine braved the boat to experience the island with Sir Anthony's Bath. Actually she made two suggestions as to it's possible function neither of which had come up before. Firstly she enquired whether it could have been a hiding place or perhaps a secret strongroom for some kind of valuable goods then she went on to ask if given the scientific background of the gardens it could have been used for a particular kind of explosive experiment or perhaps storing unusually dangerous substances. Food for thought most certainly.
Everyone's at it, drawing down at the Second Sluice. The crucial junction between the two walls at the Temple of Flora becomes clearer.
Not a great photo but just to show we have big rubble too at the top of the East Terrace section, better views tomorrow.
FRIDAY 22nd.
The last day of the 'Big Dig' although obviously still lots to be done, essentially the paperwork, next week. Down on the Second Sluice a start was made on examining the apparent blocking of the cross wall. Initial indications suggest it was not a blocking at all but part of the collapsed core of the wall. Up at the Temple of Flora the full scale and sophistication of both walls and their foundations became increasingly clear whilst on the long section perseverance finally paid off with a substantial wall emerging right at the top of the trench. It looks as if a fairly massive but rough cut retaining wall was built which could then be faced with well dressed ashlar. In afternoon we had our final excursion to the island before starting to clear away bits and pieces most notably the contents of the tea tent. So, of course, huge thanks to everyone but particularly to our hosts: Rowena and Christopher and our supervisors: Peter, Verna and Emma.
Well it looks like blocking to me. Shereen is not so sure.
An extraordinary depth of footing on the down slope wall. The upper terrace wall in the long section finally revealed... phew.
Contrasting 'finds': a twisted piece of lead came from a leaded light window and one of the largest worked stones we've seen anywhere in the garden cleaned off by Peter
At the end of the day, a quick photo for the record, labels in place, props removed, the Temple of Flora from the east.
The Lady of the Lake perhaps... the movie rights to this sequence have now been sold to the highest bidder!
The last day of the 'Big Dig' although obviously still lots to be done, essentially the paperwork, next week. Down on the Second Sluice a start was made on examining the apparent blocking of the cross wall. Initial indications suggest it was not a blocking at all but part of the collapsed core of the wall. Up at the Temple of Flora the full scale and sophistication of both walls and their foundations became increasingly clear whilst on the long section perseverance finally paid off with a substantial wall emerging right at the top of the trench. It looks as if a fairly massive but rough cut retaining wall was built which could then be faced with well dressed ashlar. In afternoon we had our final excursion to the island before starting to clear away bits and pieces most notably the contents of the tea tent. So, of course, huge thanks to everyone but particularly to our hosts: Rowena and Christopher and our supervisors: Peter, Verna and Emma.
Well it looks like blocking to me. Shereen is not so sure.
An extraordinary depth of footing on the down slope wall. The upper terrace wall in the long section finally revealed... phew.
Contrasting 'finds': a twisted piece of lead came from a leaded light window and one of the largest worked stones we've seen anywhere in the garden cleaned off by Peter
At the end of the day, a quick photo for the record, labels in place, props removed, the Temple of Flora from the east.
The Lady of the Lake perhaps... the movie rights to this sequence have now been sold to the highest bidder!
The following day we saw the last
of our volunteers safely on their way and then on Sunday it started to
rain and it rained all day Monday and on into Tuesday morning. We were
lucky we didn't have such a downpour earlier as the site was pretty
unworkable for the whole of the next day. I used the time to clean
tools and wash out muddy buckets. usually one asks the workers to do it
on their last day but I just didn't have the heart, One consequence of
the heavy rain was the flooding of the trenches and a few collapses
along the section edges and particularly we lost several stones form
the walls at the Temple of Flora. I was able to reposition the dressed
stones from the wall in their correct places but the reused rubble was
washed out along with a lot of the soil that had supported them
so replacement was not really an option.
The bottom end of the long section, a surprising amount of material has been washed down the slope, I guess this is how the deposits build up.
The south side of the Temple of Flora plus tumbled stones.
The side of Peter's trench partially fallen in... I blame rabbits. After the waters recede... a lot of mud.
The bottom end of the long section, a surprising amount of material has been washed down the slope, I guess this is how the deposits build up.
The south side of the Temple of Flora plus tumbled stones.
The side of Peter's trench partially fallen in... I blame rabbits. After the waters recede... a lot of mud.