Surveying at Acton Scott

Press release 25 September 2007

Surveying at Acton Scott

Volunteers from the Acton Scott Heritage project, a “Heritage Lottery Funded” community project organised by Shropshire County Council’s Archaeology Service, have been learning the art of surveying from Community Archaeologist Hugh Hannaford.

“I am teaching them the common methods of recording earthworks in plan form so that it becomes easier to work out what a feature actually is. Surveying using traditional techniques, or the latest in satellite technology, can show up even subtle “humps and bumps” in fields to good effect” said Hugh.

Acton Scott Project Officer Phil Scoggins pointed out that such methods could bring to light long vanished features of the local landscape such as medieval “ridge and furrow”, the long S-shaped mounds left by medieval ploughing, or house platforms. “We are particularly keen to locate the site of a tower house that was partially unearthed by workmen in the late 18th Century and to discover whether Acton Scott village was once a denser settlement than it is today” he said.

A start has already been made on surveying a field near St.Margaret’s Church and volunteers plan to use their newly acquired skills to investigate other earthwork sites in the parish.

Councillor Barbara Craig, Cabinet Member for Shropshire County Council Community Services welcomed the latest news from the project. “This project is all about empowering local volunteers to actively research more about the history of their community and so I welcome this latest initiative.”

Ends

For further information, contact Phil Scoggins, Project Officer, Shropshire County Council on tel: 01694 781306
email: phil.scoggins@shropshire-cc.gov.uk

For media contact Charlie Crowl, Directorate Communications Officer, Community Services, Shropshire County Council on tel: 01743 253885