21st September 2019
We had a display in Selby Abbey as part of the CBA Yorkshire conference
” Pathways to the Past”
We were advertising our next dig starting on the 8th October 2019
There were many speakers who came to help history group be successful
The most famous was Carenza Lewis who was on the TV programme
Time Team for many years
Tony Hunt and Carenza Lewis at the conference in Selby Abbey
Our last event was Saturday 29th June 2019 in Cawood school
The hall was packed to see Jon Kenny present our new project
Finding Iron Age and Roman Cawood
This is Jon talking to the audience about the upcoming dig
This is Edward looking or treasure on the school field
Thank you to all our experts and volunteers who made this year so successful for us
Last day of the dig
Sad day- weather wet- but managed to finish the recording of the features most of which are full of water
Saying Goodbye to the last 5 months of archaeology
24th October Open day to celebrate the end of Lottery funded project
Mrs Joyce Payne gave a report on Keesbury Hall Close. She told us how she had inherited the site and her ideas for it’s future as a wildlife site
She also gave a wonderful tribute of thanks to Jon Kenny and me for all our hard work on the Keesbury project. She asked the audience to give us a round of applause.
This managed to embarrass both Jon & I
Next on the agenda was Keesbury Manor Heritage Project ( from Cawood’s medieval manor to a gooseberry patch) was described
What we knew before we started (which was very little), the project itself, the visits and activities we had during the last 10 months.
I told the audience facts about the project…..over 450 people had taken part plus 100+ children, 23 dig days and 45 seperate events
I thanked all the volunteers for their dedication and participation in all the events, showing a collage of photographs of everyone who took part
Jon followed with his archaeological information
He took us through all the trenches, what we might be looking for, the different levels and the things we had found
Quite a few of the finds were on display in the hall. There were 2 display boards with photographs of the events, maps to which could be added fruit growing in the village, reports on the various surveys that had been done and refreshments made by myself, Jackie and Linda.
The guided tour of the site went well. Our archaeologist showed the visitors all the trenches and interpretated the features that could be seen
About 30 people toured the site in the glorious sunshine.
19th August
Nigel Adams, MP visited our Archaeological Dig at Keesbury Manor
We were pleased to welcome Mr Nigel Adams, our local MP who visited our dig on Wednesday 19th August at 2pm
He had a tour of the site with Jon Kenny archaeologist and Margaret Brearley project leader and tea with the volunteers.
The Great Dig on 23-24th June at Keesbury Manor Medieval site
Trench 6
We have completed 2 trenches on non scheduled land
Trench 5 showing different soil levels
There was a rare opportunity to be part of an archaeological investigation of Keesbury Manor medieval site in Cawood in June 2015
We are currently applying for scheduled monument consent to put test pits on the site and as yet not sure if the permission will come through for these days
As the grass is so long and our potential grass cutter is hurtling towards Rome in a sports car, we have to wait until he returns to have it cut
We will do a training session on excavating a test pit elsewhere starting on the Tuesday 23rd June and Wednesday 24th June at 15 Broad Lane, 10 am
If you would like to take part in the dig on Keesbury Manor please get in touch with us through the web site or email
Gooseberry Fayre, Cawood School 13th June 2015
Despite the wet weather the school and ourselves had a very successful day on Saturday
We sold over 100 Goosberry pies
plus beautiful goosberry cake and gave away Gooseberry Fool
I imagine there were a few children that evening wishing they hadn’t eaten quite so much Gooseberry fool.
We also collected fruit growing information on a village map
Margaret & Jessica serving Goosberry Pies
Landmark Trust Presentation of the Gatehouse
Sat 16th and Sun 17th May 2015
Open weekend presentation of the Cawood Castle/Palace Gatehouse
This is to celebrate 50 years of the Landmark Trust.
We had a display in the banqueting hall
A Great Crested Newt Experience Saturday 2nd May and Sunday 3rd May 2015
It was cold and wet so not many newts could be seen.
The next morning only 1 smooth newt and a pair of Great Crested newts were found.
6th April 2015 Cawood Castle Garth Moated Site
A guided tour of the important Cawood Castle Garth moated site was held on Easter Monday led by Jon Kenny and Margaret Brearley Hot cross buns were enjoyed by all We had mole hill sifting for archaeology with the children who were rewarded with chocolate creme eggs
Barley Hall in York Sunday 8th March 2015
A visit to Barley Hall organised by Jon Kenny
29th March 2015 A visit to Bolton Percy Gatehouse and
Acaster Selby St Andrew’s College moated site
Keesbury Manor Heritage Project have also visited the medieval manor site at Acaster Selby and the medieval restored gatehouse at Bolton Percy
Launch of Keesbury Manor Heritage Project and Moated Manor Workshop 17th January 2015
Introduction by Margaret Brearley Workshop by Jon Kenny, Community Archaeologist for York Archaeolgical Trust This was held in Cawood School and very well attended