Introduction
This document has been produced to record a talk and workshop provided Dr Bryn Morris, Director of South West Archaeology (SWARCH) to the Worlington Heritage Group and East Worlington Parish Hall Trustee on the skills and techniques of the archaeologist using examples based on East Worlington.
You can also download a PDF version of this document:
Research-Skills-Report-V8-20190319.pdf
Background
One element of East Worlington Parish Hall Conversation and Improvement Plan and Programme initiated in 2014 was to establish an archive of information supporting knowledge and understanding about the heritage associated with the Parish Hall and the community generally.
Heritage Lottery Support 2014 / 2016
In 2014 East Worlington Parish Hall gained a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant for a project named Conserve & Research East Worlington Parish Hall, a Converted C17th Cob & Thatched Tithe Barn (HLF Project OH-12-12290). This resulted in a group of community volunteers establishing a Worlington Heritage Group.
Worlington Heritage Group
The Group, were (and continue to be) all volunteers with an interest in heritage, started the process of researching and archiving historical facts, evidence and artefacts. This contributed significantly to the successful outcomes of the HLF supported project. One of the outcomes was that the group continued to work on research and archiving documents, and this has been achieved. The group are all amateurs and have used their various skills to contribute to the tasks undertaken. The Group established three main aims:
- To extend the learning and understanding of the community about our heritage
- To continue to research and extend our archive of information documents and artefacts
- To encourage and develop the interest and skills of other community members to engage in research and learning about their community.
Heritage Lottery Support 2017 / 2019
In 2017 East Worlington Parish Hall was awarded a second grant for a project named Conservation and Celebration: A Century of Serving Our Community as a Parish Hall (HLF Project OH-16-04660). The Skills and Techniques of the Archaeologist is one element of this project and added real value to the community’s engagement in the continuing research of our local heritage.
Professional Support
One of the activities of the Project (OH-16-04660) was to engage the community in volunteering to research further our heritage, improve research skills within the community, and improve research outcomes with an increasing quantity of information, artefact and other evidence.
In preparation for the heritage project Conserve & Research East Worlington Parish Hall, a Converted C17th Cob & Thatched Tithe Barn (HLF Project OH-12-12290) an Archaeological Survey and Report had been commissioned and this was undertaken by South West Archaeology (SWARCH) (2013).
Therefore, to provide the professional support required for this project (Conservation and Celebration: A Century of Serving Our Community as a Parish Hall (HLF Project OH-16-04660)) SWARCH were contacted and they agreed to provide the professional expertise in a talk / workshop with two prime objectives
- Understanding the skills and techniques of the archaeologist, and
- Applying the archaeological approaches to East Worlington
In achieving these desired objectives, South West Archaeology were commissioned, and the talk/workshop was prepared and provided by Dr. Bryn Morris, Director & Project Officer.
The attendees were Worlington Heritage Group and East Worlington Parish Hall Trustees who form the core group of local people interested in and with the responsibility of conserving the Hall as part of the local heritage. The aim for the future is to further develop and extend a core group of local researchers.
Dr Bryn Morris ACIfA, BA, MA, PhD Providing the Talk / Workshop
South West Archaeology (SWARCH) – Archaeological Service & Historic Building Recording
This is a large document spread over the following pages: