SKDC Press Release – 22 August 2024
A five day archaeological excavation at Fulbeck Manor has unearthed relics from across the centuries.
South Kesteven District Council helped to organise Digging Market Garden to search for traces of WW2 military heritage at a location rich in airborne forces heritage.
Funded by the University of Oxford and organised in partnership with Lincoln University and military charities, the dig drew military veterans, serving soldiers and their families as volunteers, together with specialist detectorists.
The excavated trenches yielded bullets, uniform buttons, a kit tag, engine parts, and foundations and drains from the time that the British First Airborne Division occupied the Manor and grounds in the 1944 build up to Arnhem. They also revealed unexpected traces from much older occupations of the site, including a substantial medieval building.
All finds will be carefully researched and catalogued, with the dig seen as a possible springboard into more archaeological explorations across our airborne forces-related sites.
Cllr Richard Dixon Warren, SKDC Armed Forces Champion, said: “The whole event has been an absolute triumph and one that we were proud to be part of. We had no idea what we would find, but it’s been a fascinating voyage of discovery conducted in the most amazing, focused and positive atmosphere.
“It has proved what an appetite there is for further knowledge about our WW2 and airborne forces heritage.”
Prof Tim Clack, University of Oxford said, “We have demonstrated not only the archaeological potential of digs such as this but local community interest and the viability of partnerships with the council, other universities and military charities.
“We have found an intricate tapestry of WW2 heritage and one that has enabled us unearth all sorts of other items of interest to museums.
“Memory is fragile and Digging Market Garden has also led to some amazing memory capture before it disappears. Not only did locals visit the site to share their stories and memories but, since the dig, the team has been contacted by others keen to share relevant family histories, photographs and records”
Digging Market Garden also prompted a packed Friday night talk ‘By Air to Battle: South Kesteven’s Airborne Heritage’ by Brian Riley. The talk was introduced by Judy Urquhart, daughter of Major General Roy Urquhart, commander British First Airborne Division in 1944.
Saturday’s Public Open Day invited people onto the dig site with huge interest in the Village Hall exhibition of military memorabilia displays and military re-enactors.
This is what Prof. Carenza Lewis had to say on Facebook.
Finally, on the morning of Day 5 (Sunday) of #DiggingMarketGarden, while taking back a couple of sections to aid precise drawing, we (a) confirmed the stone feature in our Trench 1 sondage was a wall and (b) discovered an entirely NEW massive stone wall underlying the brick footing (that was itself an unexpected discovery the day before!). The stone walls are broadly parallel, and appear to be part of the hitherto archaeologically unknown medieval manorial site. Fulbeck Manor really was the dig site that kept on giving, right to the very end – with its final gift being a really good workout for all of us involved in the backfilling (special credit to volunteer Jerry for staying on to help with this)!
By 6pm on Sunday, we were all able to enjoy the satisfaction of (a) seeing the reinstated site looking great, (b) knowing the wealth of archaeology the lawns and shrub borders overlie, now mostly reburied in situ under and (c) remembering the huge amount of enjoyment that was had by everyone (volunteers and staff) on a fantastic project.
Thanks to EVERYONE involved, especially including the Fane family for hosting with such enthusiasm, charm and erudition, as well as the following organisations for their support in providing funds, expertise, volunteers and/or practical help:
- Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)
- Wings to the Past
- South Kesteven District Council SKDC
- The Royal Corps of Signals
- British Army
- Royal Air Force (RAF)
- NETWORK ARCHAEOLOGY LIMITED
- Fulbeck Craft Centre
- University of Oxford
- University of Lincoln
A huge shout out especially to Alex Fane (owner), Matt Naughton and Alex Wilford (Network Archaeology), Brian Riley (aviation historian), James Nightingale and Tom Routledge (Wings to the Past), Debbie Nichols (SKDC). It was also great to be co-directing this fieldwork with Assoc. Prof. Tim Clack (Oxford University) in a very effective partnership – this was the first time we have worked together, but hopefully not the last.
It was a privilege and a pleasure to work with all of you on this amazing ‘proof of concept’ project around aviation community history, which we hope will lead to more in the future.
This is the link to the ITV News segment on the dig: https://fb.watch/u6_GgIw6Y5
