The Tudor Farming Interpretation Group was delighted when, in 2020, it received a National Lottery Heritage Fund (NHLF) grant and funding from the Peak District National Park Communities Small Grant Scheme for their exciting one year heritage project, Digging Deeper – The Origins of Whitle, a community archaeology project based at Under Whitle farm, Sheen. However, because of the Covid19, the project was extended to two years and, although the historical research began as planned (albeit remotely), the dig itself was postponed until August and September 2021.

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The project focused on the excavation of a potential medieval house platform previously investigated as part of Peeling Back the Layers archaeology project in 2016 and archaeobotanical sampling was carried out to tell us something of the historic flora and earlier farming practices.

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Open days enabled the general public to see what had been found and take part in guided walks around the newly updated archaeology trail, bringing the story of Whitle to life. The trail continues to be open to the public. 

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The excavation for ‘Digging Deeper’ provided a unique opportunity for local people, the wider community including Mosaic groups (people from black and minority ethnic groups) to get involved, working together to find out how this landscape was lived in earlier times. We offered training in archaeological techniques with the chance to ‘dig the dirt’ alongside professional archaeologists and to learn of new techniques in archaeobotanical sampling. Volunteers have had the opportunity to develop their skills as well as contribute towards the nationally recognised Archaeology Skills Passport. 

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A grant awarded by the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme in 2023 means we are now investigating our pollen samples further and the results are proving to be very exciting! Watch this space...

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Further information

If you would like any further information about this project go to www.tudorfarming.co.uk/digging-deeper, or contact Dr Ian Parker Heath (Project Manager) using our Get in Touch page

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