News

Volunteers Required for Geophysical Survey of the Roman City of Wroxeter

Posted on by shropshire archaeological and historical society

Volunteers Required for Geophysical Survey of the Roman City of Wroxeter

August 30th to September 9th 2022 (inclusive)

An exciting new study of the Roman city of Wroxeter, the fourth largest in the Roman province of Britannia, is about to take place and we are looking for a team of 9 volunteers willing to support this work.

Win Scutt Properties Curator (West) of English Heritage is working in partnership Professor Friedrich Lüth of the German Archaeological Institute and Janine Young archaeologist for the National Trust based at Attingham to conduct a new geophysical survey of Wroxeter Roman City using the latest state of the art equipment.

A survey took place in the 1990s revealing a detailed plan of the buried city, but the technology has moved on considerably over the last thirty years and the German Archaeological Institute’s equipment promises to reveal much finer detail. It is also very fast, making it possible to scan a vast area in a short space of time, while connecting to satellite GPS to provide an instant digital map.

We are looking for people who have a keen interest in archaeology, who are energetic, friendly team players and available for an interview via Zoom on Tuesday August 23rd. The project takes place August 30th until September 9th (inclusive of weekends) with compulsory training on the 30th.

You need to be available EVERY day and undertake an early or late shift 8am to 2pm or 2pm to 8pm.

How to apply

If you want to take part in this survey and are available ALL OF THE DATES ABOVE please go to the English Heritage website Wroxeter Roman City Geophysical Survey Volunteer Page https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/Volunteer/wroxeter_roman_city_geophysical_surveying_volunteer/

Raven Meadows film launched

Posted on by shropshire archaeological and historical society

A film revealing the fascinating history of one of Shrewsbury’s lesser-known areas has been created by the teams at Shropshire Museums & Archives. The film uses original archive material held in the collections of Shropshire Museums & Archives.

No area of Shrewsbury town centre has seen such great change over such a short period of time as the area between the main shopping streets and the River Severn.

It is an area seemingly poised for the biggest changes in its history, but this is a place where big changes have been happening for the last 150 years. So, here’s a chance to find out more about the rapidly changing look and feel of Raven Meadows in a fascinating new video collaboration between Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, Shropshire Archives and the Old Market Hall. In the 40-minute video, you are taken on around the perimeter of Raven Meadows down Meadow Place, along Smithfield Road, up Roushill and along the backs of Pride Hill and Castle Street before plunging into the ever-changing area in the middle. Find out about the homes of medieval merchants, Roushill’s colourful past and the lofty but doomed ambitions of 1960s architects, all richly illustrated with old images from the collections of Shropshire Museums and Shropshire Archives. (Nat Stevenson, Shropshire Archives)

The film can be seen by following this link: “Shrewsbury’s Field of Dreams” film

Saturday 9th July 2022 – ‘Poets, artists, and writers at Wroxeter’

Posted on by shropshire archaeological and historical society

Saturday 9th July 2022 – ‘Poets, artists, and writers at Wroxeter’
Led by Roger White, this will be a guided tour of Wroxeter from the perspective of the poets, artists and writers who have been inspired by the site from the time of its first excavations in 1859. The route will take us from the main public site, across to the forum and then down to the village where the artist Tom Prytherch lived and worked. It will be an opportunity to see the site from a different perspective, and perhaps think about how changes in how the site is managed might once again inspire artistic endeavour at Wroxeter. The tour will be led by Roger White, who has just completed a book on this subject entitled ‘Ashes Under Uricon’. Meet at 2pm at the Wroxeter Roman site car park.

Saturday 11th June 2022 – a visit to Acton Burnell

Posted on by shropshire archaeological and historical society

Saturday 11th June 2022 – a visit to Acton Burnell

UPDATE

In organising the Acton Burnell visit, we did check with the church that they had no services on the 11th June. However, we have just been informed that a wedding will be taking place in the Church from 2:30, and so the car park at the Castle (SY5 7PE, SJ 534 018) is likely to be full. We also will not be able to go into the church until after about 3.15pm. It would be useful, therefore, if you are planning to attend, for you to let me know in advance, so that we have a better idea of how many are coming and can contact you with an update on the latest arrangements. We suggest that you park in the village and walk to the Castle. We will then walk back into the village for a short while and discuss its main features, and then return to the Church in the hope that we will then be able to go inside. To let us know that you plan to attend, please email sahsmembership@gmail.com  or ring 07143 246547 

Led by David Pannett, our June meeting will be an exploration of the castle, church and village of Acton Burnell, revealing the contribution of successive owners, in particular Robert Burnell, once chancellor to Edward I, who left his mark on the village with fine buildings, using local stone, which centuries before had also been used at Wroxeter.

Meet at 2.30pm at the car park for Acton Burnell Castle (signposted). Car parking space is limited so car sharing is recommended. To offer a lift or request one, please contact Penny Ward at sahsmembership@gmail.com or 01743 246547

Saturday 7th May 2022 – ‘Shropshire: there and back again’ (Winterbourne House and Garden)

Posted on by shropshire archaeological and historical society

Saturday 7th May 2022 – a reminder for those who have booked of the talk: ‘Shropshire: there and back again’ by Lee Hale, Head of Winterbourne Garden, followed by a guided tour of the gardens at Winterbourne House and Garden, 58 Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham B15 2RT. (11am -11:20 arrival and coffee; talk: 11:30am-12:15pm; buffet lunch (provided): 12:30pm-2:00pm; guided walk around garden: 2:00pm – 3:00pm.)

Summer Programme 2022

Posted on by shropshire archaeological and historical society

Following the relaxation of restrictions relating to the Covid19 pandemic, the Society has been able to put together a full programme of events for this spring and summer.  For details please go to our Summer Programme 2022 page.  The first of these events is Philip Hume’s talk entitled ‘The King’s Writ does not run here’ on Saturday 9th April at The Gateway, Shrewsbury.

Roman West Midlands podcasts

Posted on by shropshire archaeological and historical society

In a series of podcasts for History West Midlands about the Roman West Midlands Dr Roger White of the University of Birmingham tells the story of the early years of Roman rule in central England, how the Roman town of Wroxeter provides a fascinating window into Roman town life, and how the town has become a place of mystery and myth.

Programme 1: Shock and Awe: The Roman Invasion of the West Midlands

Programme 2: Britain’s Pompeii – The Roman town of Wroxeter

Programme 3: Roman Wroxeter – a place of myth & romance

Further podcasts from History West Midlands can be found here: https://historywm.com/podcasts

Transaction volumes 91 to 93

Posted on by shropshire archaeological and historical society

Our “Transactions” volumes 91, 92 and 93 for the years 2016 to 2018 are now available to view on this website: Volumes 91 to 93 .  These two volumes have, amongst other items, reports on the early 1960s excavations at The Roveries Hillfort, Lydham and on a Roman site in Craven Arms in 2013, and articles on St Winifred’s Well, Woolston, pre-Industrial Dawley, and The Society of Friends World War II evacuation hostel at Coalbrookdale.

(The “Transactions” are where we publish important and scholarly papers on the history and archaeology of Shropshire.  Articles include reports on archaeological excavations and other fieldwork in Shropshire, historical studies, and book reviews. To find out more, please go to our page: Transactions )