STOKE ST MARY AND DISTRICT HISTORY GROUP

The first two digs having been so successful - the History Group volunteers were keen to have another go.


So on 9 May 1919 we had our third dig.  One test pit in Brookside garden and the second back in Tuckers farm.

Both teams of diggers were keen to find more evidence of Stoke St Mary’s history and they set too with a will.

Once again we were privileged to have Bob Croft directing operations with his excellent colleague Dr Richard Brunning,

Senior Historic Environment Officer


The day before there had been torrential rain but fortunately Thursday, though  initially cloudy and cool,  turned out to be a nice day and the sun soon came out and the rain stayed away.  So, ideal conditions for our dig.





STOKE ST MARY VILLAGE DIG - Part 3

9 May 1919

The team ready to start work at Brookside with Bob, Richard and a friendly cat.

The Brookside team hard at work

The Tuckers team starting their digging.

Both teams discovered some interesting finds which prove that there have been people living in Stoke St Mary village for a quite considerable period of time.

In the Tuckers pit we found lots of charcoal, animal bones, large and small, and some mediaeval pottery [circa 1340s].

In the Brookside pit they found amongst other things, some Anglo-Roman pottery [circa early AD] and a piece of flint from the Bronze age.

Bob has agreed to visit the village in the near future to discuss the finds, when they have all been washed.

Another very successful day, which has increased our knowledge of the history of the village.

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Sieving assistant at Brookside