2021
Hyde900’s fifth community dig attracted 260 people - including over 80 children, the mayor, and local MP Steve Brine and his children - to dig in five gardens close to the site of Hyde Abbey. The results exceeded all expectations, with finds of both Abbey walls and floor surfaces from the medieval monastic buildings.
Visitors to the dig included Tim Tatton-Brown (Consultant Archaeologist to St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and Salisbury Cathedral) and Professor Martin Biddle, who has taken a keen interest in the progress of the Hyde900 digs over the years.
The archaeologists in charge chose trench locations based both on research and from ground penetrating radar surveys carried out by David Ashby (University of Winchester).
Day 1 produced a find of a silver three penny coin with Day 2 starting to see the beginnings of mortar.
Day 3 finds included fragments of medieval pottery and the beginning of sightings of the robbed out foundations of the 14th century walls of the Abbey.
Day 4 produced finds ranging from Roman pottery to medieval drinking vessels.
Finds washing
Previously unknown wall
By the end of Day 4, diggers had revealed foundations of three previously unknown walls and stonework of the original 12th century Abbey.
The walls included an original 12th century section of plastered wall with the original tiled floor adjacent to it.
12th century plastered wall and tiled floor
Until then, the location of the cloisters had been a matter of guesswork, but as a result of the discoveries, the architectural advisor to the project, Dr John Crook, felt it may be necessary to redraw the plan of the Abbey.
The dig was supported by grants from the Council of British Archaeology Wessex and local estate agents Belgarum, with graphic design from Adam Architecture and the loan of equipment from Winchester Archaeology Rescue Group (WARG).
The digs could not have taken place without the enthusiastic loan of gardens by householders of King Alfred Place, Alswitha Terrace and King Alfred Terrace.