Worcestershire Young Archaeologists Club - Activities during 2008
Deborah Overton and Sheena Payne-Lunn, Co-leaders
The Worcestershire Young Archaeologists' Club is a local branch of the CBA's national organisation for young people aged 8-16. The club was founded in November 2003 by an enthusiastic group of archaeologists, teachers and parents and has maintained a membership of over 60 during its first 5 years. It aims to provide a wide variety of experiences, covering all aspects of archaeology and related disciplines, targeted at differing learning styles, abilities and ages - a particular challenge when faced with a regular attendance of up to 40 children throughout the age range! Members have the opportunity to visit museums and sites of interest, undertake new fieldwork including building recording, excavation and fieldwalking and to try their hand at various experimental techniques. As well as all of this, there are games to be played and fun to be had!
During 2008, the club met on a monthly basis to take part in the following activities:
- January - St Swithun's Church and the History Centre, Worcester. Using records from the History Centre and information in the church we reconstructed the lives of past parishioners. There was an opportunity to do some brass rubbing followed by a climb to the top of the tower.
- February - Bratch Pumping Station, Wombourne. A visit to one of only 50 remaining steam pumping stations in England. Built in 1895 by Bilston Corporation, it comprises a wonderful Gothic-style 'fairy castle' pumphouse, containing two vertical triple-expansion steam engines. These were used for 65 years to raise pure drinking water from deep boreholes, and pump it to a reservoir in Wolverhampton.
- March - Forensic Archaeology Day. A full day event in which we learnt how archaeologists study human bones, and what can be learnt from them about people and societies in the past. We had a go at facial reconstruction and learnt from osteologist Christina Lythe, the techniques used to identify skeletal remains - their age at death, sex and even what they may have died from.
- April - Bewdley Museum and Town walk. Bewdley Museum has lots to offer and focuses on the many crafts and industries associated with its past as a busy port on the River Severn in the 18th century and includes a rope-walk. The town itself is full of historic buildings, an interesting river frontage, old streets and alleyways.
- May - Graveyard Survey at Worcester Cathedral. We learnt how to carry out a measured survey of the Cloister garden graveyard, recording the stone inscriptions as we did so. There was also a tour of the Cathedral roof spaces by Cathedral Archaeologist, Chris Guy.
- June - Droitwich Lido. A guided walk around the historic town, well known for its brine springs and the extraction of salt during the Iron Age, Roman and medieval periods. This was followed by a dip in the newly-restored lido!
- July - National Archaeology Week. The club joined members of the South Worcestershire Archaeology Group and the National Trust to excavate a former latrine at the Temple Greenhouse, Croome Court.
- September - Northwick Project, Oral History recording. As part of the Northwick Manor Community Heritage Project (details below) members interviewed two local residents about their memories of living in the area and produced a display about life in Northwick and Bevere during the 20th century.
- October - Alcester Town walk. We focussed on architecture and learnt how to date buildings from their external appearance. This was followed by a visit to the History Centre to learn all about Roman Alcester.
- November - Forge Mill Museum, Redditch. The Forge Mill Needle museum tells the fascinating and sometimes gruesome story of needle making in Victorian times. The Mill is a listed building which houses original water powered machinery and is on the site of a medieval mill and next door to Bordesley Abbey.
- December - Christmas Party! This year the theme was 'famous historical people' - we dressed up, played games and tried historical foods such as 'real' mince pies, Sally Lunn buns and Caesar salad; with a few crisps thrown in for good measure!
Alongside a regular monthly programme, the club tries to offer further opportunities to get involved with longer-term projects. In January 2008, we were delighted to discover that we had successfully obtained a grant of nearly £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund's 'Your Heritage' scheme for the Northwick Manor Community Heritage Project. This two-year project pulled together a number of partners including Worcester City Museums, Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service, Worcester City Parks, Worcestershire Record Office and the Portable Antiquities Scheme, to engage the local community in a variety of archaeological and local history-related activities, leading to the creation of a fully interpreted heritage trail, website and booklet. Members of the club hosted a grand launch event (see photos above) where more than 200 members of the local community joined in with archery and medieval-themed games, learnt how they could get involved and were entertained by morris dancers. A programme of education, fieldwork and research, oral history interviewing and art activities is ongoing, and 2009 will see fieldwalking activities, test-pitting in local gardens and earthwork and building surveys.
