The Lydbury Field Group, is a community archaeology group based in south west Shropshire and was formed in 2003 by a group of local residents who wanted to explore the archaeology of the area through practical fieldwork.

The Group carries out investigations into the development of the archaeological landscape in south-west Shropshire. Activities include documentary research, map analysis, fieldwalking, finds recording, site surveying, and excavation.

The Group also holds regular monthly meetings for talks or guided walks and visits to places of archaeological interest. The purpose of these is to engage members in the local and regional archaeology as a part of the continuing educational function of the Group.

We welcome all with an interest in archaeology and the historic environment, regardless of experience.

The Group is conducting a landscape project 'THE MAKING OF THE LYDBURY LANDSCAPE', the aim being to study the development of the Lydbury landscape during the Holocene period (i.e. since the end of the previous Ice Age c.12,000 years ago) through the archaeological and palaeo-environmental research.

The area of study is situated in South-West Shropshire centred on the village of Lydbury North (SO354860). It lies along the Kemp valley, from Acton to Brampton, and includes the hills on either side. Within the area are the village of Lydbury North and the hamlets of Brockton, Lower Down, Kempton and Brampton. The area lies at the centre of what was formerly the medieval manor of Lydbury North that is of Anglo-Saxon origin.

The objectives of the project are to: study and identify environmental change in the landscape due to human activity and intervention, understand past communities, how they were informed by their environment and external influences, how they subsisted and developed as communities in terms of cultural processes. As well as to identify and record significant changes in the agricultural landscape, particularly the development of Walcot Park and to further the understanding of the origins and development of the village of Lydbury North.

Visit the Group's website for information on their current activities and on how to join.

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