Retracing Saxon Footsteps: Exercise Shallow Grave
With Richard Osgood
Richard first gave a Wessex Week talk on this fascinating discovery in 2023 and came back to provide an update on the dig, which was ongoing!
Gloucestershire in the 7th Century was a ‘liminal zone‘: true frontier land. Traces of this age are limited and yet a Cotswold field has recently yielded some very important finds, evidence for a settlement which has associated burials – one of which was provided with a series of impressive grave goods.
Located by a metal detectorist, the site was investigated further by Gloucestershire Council and then by participants on the Operation Nightingale programme using archaeology to assist the recovery of military veterans. Hence, Exercise ‘Shallow Grave’ was formed. This talk will explore the site in the Cotswolds and then draw in recent parallels from other sites in Wessex – on the chalklands of the military training area of Salisbury Plain.
(Rumour has it that Time Team may be involved – but our friends at Cotswold Archaeology are certainly on the case)
Guided walk around the Saxon heart of Malmesbury
A guided walk with Campbell Ritchie
A Guided Walk with story-telling around the heart of Saxon Malmesbury with Athelstan 1100 Project Leader Campbell Ritchie.
The Stumpe Family of Malmesbury
With Tony McAleavy
Tony McAleavy told the ‘rags to riches’ tale of William Stumpe who became one of England’s richest businessmen in the time of Henry VIII. One of England’s greatest social climbers!
Tony tracked the progress of the Stumpe family in the centuries that followed as they became part of England’s aristocratic elite, and concluded the evening with an astonishing revelation about the identity of one of William Stumpe’s descendants who is still alive today.
The North Wessex Way – The Forgotten Road
With David Mitchell
This is the story of the ancient Oxford to Bristol Road that runs across North Wiltshire and through Malmesbury. With its origins in the Iron Age, it has played a role in major historical events across the centuries until it suddenly fell into disuse in the 1700s because of some political shenanigans.
David took us on a journey of Kings, armies, battles, monks, industry and buried treasure, and challenge the way you think about the history of Malmesbury.
The building of Malmesbury Abbey
With Tony McAleavy
Tony McAleavy explained how and when the medieval Abbey that we can see today was built and identify the key individuals who played a part in the making of the building.
Tony is the author of the first ever full length history of Malmesbury Abbey.