Visiting The South Dorset Ridgeway
Claire Whiles visits the South Dorset Ridgeway in Dorset, England. Within the 14 square miles of this beautiful stretch of country are at least 500 archaeological monuments, nearly all of them several thousand years old.
The South Dorset Ridgeway in Dorset, England, is unique. Within the 14 square miles of this beautiful stretch of country are at least 500 archaeological monuments, nearly all of them several thousand years old.
(See the map on our websites for map points below)
Hardy's Monument
(Map point 1) Built in 1844 to commemorate Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy (flag captain of the Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar) This is a marvellous viewing point and where we started the filming for this show.
Hell Stone Dolmen
(Map point 2) The Hell Stone on Portesham Hill is an impressive dolmen, a six thousand year old burial site known as a Neolithic long barrow.
Hampton Stone Circle
(Map point 3) Ruined but recognisable Saracen circle dating to 2200-1400 BC. Reported in 1939 to have 16 stones, further excavation in 1964 reported 28 stones.
Grey Mare and Her Colts
(Map point 4) A most impressive long barrow. About 20m of the earthen mound has survived behind a single burial chamber, made of sarsen stones. -- a boulder of silicified sandstone, probably of Tertiary age also called greywether
Kingston Russell Stone Circle
(Map point 5) A late Neolithic or early Bronze Age circle of 18 fallen stones, on a hilltop overlooking Abbotsbury and the sea. All the stones are recumbent although one was still standing at the beginning of the 19th Century.
Charborough Estate, behind the wall.
Dashcam of the long driveways into and out of Charborough Park during the charity open day on the 15th of May 2016
The Lilliputters Ringing Tour 2017: Day 4
Day Four of the Lilliputters Young Ringers’ Tour 2017, and I think it was fair to say tiredness was starting to set in at this point! After two intense days, Thursday saw a more laid-back programme; five six-bell towers in fantastic Dorset countryside. Today’s special guests were Rob and Nicki, who came on the Wednesday of the first Lilliput tour, and Euan “Anklebiter” Thomas – who you may have spotted from May’s Lilliput videos!
We started today at the fine, old-fashioned, heavy six at Sturminster Marshall; a meaty ring of bells, incorporating three medieval bells, which handle excellently and make a fine old noise, albeit a bit too quiet inside for my liking. Bob Doubles (outside) and Bourne Surprise Minor (inside) are featured here. Connor and Kaleeb just couldn’t resist the sanky grab either!
Moving up the road, we arrived at the slightly less inspiring six at Spetisbury, where the youngsters (and overgrown yoofs!) preferred to spend their time in the playpark rather than ringing! The bells themselves handled well but didn’t sound particularly good, although slightly better outside than in. Cambridge Minor (outside) and Stedman Doubles (inside) are featured here.
We couldn’t take lunch in the playground, so instead we moved onto Winterborne Kingston for our picnic lunch. As is typical of a bellringers’ day out in England, the sun shone, handbells were rung, and Ashley found love!... The highlight here wasn’t the bells – which were an OK country six and badly oddstruck around the middle (featuring Stedman inside and Plain Bob outside). No, we found a piano! Marc played. Aaron sang. Need I say more?! :-)
With that safely out of the system, another Winterborne beckoned – Whitechurch this time. A low draught brings its own idiosyncrasies, and the fifth slipped wheel in splendid fashion! However, one rectified, we rang a very good course of variable treble London Minor, some of which is featured here, on what are an awkward, oddstruck six, rehung and augmented from 5 by Taylor’s in 1990
The final tower of the day was the gutsy, old-fashioned six at Bere Regis. Rehung and retuned by Taylor’s very recently, they were a fine end to the day, with the main problem being the clock case making the back bells slightly awkward. Call changes and Cambridge Minor are the clips of choice here.
Once again, the evening meal was spent at the Scout Hut, where for the first time, we hosted a “Lilliputters Got Talent” contest, with some weird and wonderful contributions across the board! As per the last two years, Thursday night is Firework Night, and Poole Council did not disappoint with another fine display, which we enjoyed from across the harbour
Day 5 will follow at some point! Thank you for watching :-)
Mike Fulford Public Lecture
Professor Michael Fulford, Department of Archaeology, gave this public lecture at the University of Reading on 14th October 2015.
The Roman invasion of Britain transformed the country's landscape forever. The major historical events that have taken place are being gradually uncovered to reveal some remarkable truths about the former Roman town. Underneath the Roman ruins, an Iron Age town was discovered to have preceded it.
Professor Mike Fulford discusses the transition of Silchester from Iron Age to Roman town, along with analysing many of the finds within the 18 years of the archaeological dig.
Part of the University of Reading's public lecture series. See for more details
Big Dig - BU Archaeology Field School
What did you do this summer? Our students, staff and visiting field school participants unearthed part of a large Roman settlement (named Duropolis). They discovered a series of strange burials with mixed human and animal remains to investigate, together with an array of structures and artefacts from prehistoric and Roman Britain. Roman settlements have never before been discovered with burials of this type, which is another significant discovery following on from last year’s discovery of a Roman Villa with five human burials located within the Villa grounds.
The archaeological field school experience provided by Bournemouth University ensures our students gain the experience and training required of how to excavate, report, record and detail a live and un-touched dig-site. The experience is invaluable and so far the new discoveries have unearthed new insights into the history of Roman Britain, building a picture of what life was like pre, post and during the Roman invasion of Dorset.
This short film includes footage of the dig site, location information, artefacts, and site experience interviews with students and visiting field school participants, plus site significance information provided by Big Dig directors Dr Miles Russell and Paul Cheetham.
For more information:
To find out more about our Big Dig project, including a dig diary visit: The Big Dig
The Big Dig Field School is also open to the public to experience and learn archaeology, so if you’re interested in taking part booking information can be found here:
Opportunities in the Department of Archaeology, Anthropology & Forensic Science at Bournemouth University visit:
Dorset County Show 2017
Our visit to Dorset County Show 2017 - read more here:
News Science;Found the bodies of the Romans 1700 years
Graves of wealthy Romans unearthed by students: 'Hugely significant' remains found buried on grounds of 1,700-year-old villa
Students discovered the grave near where a 4th century villa is located
It contained remains of two adult males and females, plus an elderly female
Experts believe they are 1,700 years old and were from the same family
If they owned the villa, this would have put them in the 'top 2% of society'
If so, it is likely they were politicians, states people or tax collectors
A group of first year university students have made one of the most significant archaeological finds of recent times after unearthing the remains of a wealthy Roman family.
The amateur archaeologists discovered a 1,700-year-old grave containing five Romans in a farmer's field near where a 4th century villa was found last July.
Although more than 700 Roman villas have been discovered in Britain, it is the first time the people who lived in them have ever been uncovered.
Experts have described the find as 'hugely significant' and say it could provide vital clues to who was living in Britain around 350 AD.
Around 85 students made the discovery after carrying out a study on a corn field near Winterbourne Kingston near Blandford, Dorset.
The students, from Bournemouth University, had been investigating land close to where a Roman villa was discovered last year.
As part of their degree course, they had been trying to establish whether people who lived in Roman villas were British or European.
They were able to map the ground by carrying out a geophysical survey, in which low-level electrical currents are passed through the soil to create a virtual picture of what lies beneath.
To their surprise they found a small enclosure around 300 ft (91 metres) from the villa - and after excavating the site they discovered the skeletal remains of two adult males, two adult females and an elderly female.
It is thought there are three generations of the same wealthy family who lived in the villa around 1,700 years ago.
The remains are now being analysed and it is hoped the results will give a clear picture as to who the people were. The work will form part of the students' final-year dissertations.
Dr Miles Russell, a senior lecturer in archaeology, said: 'We are in the process of investigating the transition from the Iron Age to the Roman era.
'We want to see what sort of changes our country went through at that time and whether the people living in Roman villas were Britons who had become Roman or Europeans who had moved to Britain to exploit the land.
'Last year we identified a Roman villa in a farmer's field near Winterbourne Kingston and after conducting a geophysical survey on the surrounding land in May, we found a grave site nearby.'
There were the remains of five adults in the grave dating back to the same time as the villa, and Dr Russell said it is highly likely they were the villa owners.
'There were two adult males, two adult females and an elderly female. We think they might be three generations of the same family.
'Being Roman was all about showing your wealth and status, and it is likely these people would have been politicians, states people or tax collectors.
'They would have been in the top two per cent of society and super-wealthy.
'This find is hugely significant because there have been more than 700 Roman villas found in Britain but before now no-one has ever found their occupants.
'It brings us a lot closer to knowing who the people living in Roman villas were.
'The bones have been sent off for tests which will hopefully reveal their age and health. From that we will be able to paint a much better picture of who these people were.
'Many of the Roman villas around Britain were dug in the 19th century before the technology to conduct geophysical surveys existed.
'Our find could lead to graves of Roman villa owners all round the country being discovered.
'Who lived in Roman villas is one of the big questions in British archaeology and we might finally be able to provide some answers.'
The site of the dig will be opened to the public on 13 July.
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Lord Rix lecture 2015
The second annual Lord Rix lecture took place on Wednesday 25 November 2015 at the Millbank Media Centre, London.
The event examined the portrayal of people with a learning disability in the media. The evening was hosted by Sarah Montague of the BBC Today Programme. Titled ‘Learning disability and the media: unseen, stereotyped or silenced?’, the lecture showcased changing attitudes towards people with a learning disability- one of Mencap’s biggest strategic priorities.
TS2019 - Norwich - Great Yarmouth - Class 68
Train -
Route -
Enhancement Pack -
Scenario - Included in the enhancement pack.
The bells of St. Martin of Tours, Epsom, Surrey
Recorded on the day of the Southern England Youth Contest (2nd April 2016)held at Christ Church, Epsom Common
Tenor: 16qrs-0qrs-2lbs in F cast in 1920 by Mears and Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, London