The Foxearth History Detectives

May Spring Bank Holiday saw the opening of the first Test Pit excavation in Foxearth, as part of the Heritage Lottery ‘All Our Stories’ funded Foxearth Church Heritage Initiative project. This was the first of several Test Pits due to be excavated in the village throughout summer 2013.

Appropriately, this Test Pit was located in the garden of The Rectory, with a second here to be opened in June. Much information has been gathered already about Foxearth in the past, with a surprise find of an antler from a Fallow Deer (usually a parkland species). If you would like to take part in any of the future excavations or haven’t already offered a site on your own land or garden and would like to be included, please contact Corinne Cox ( 01787 379410).
Fieldwalking, although hampered by poor weather earlier in the year, has already indicated some interesting manorial sites and finds have included several pieces of medieval pottery as well as a complete base from a Hedingham ware flagon/drinking vessel. Fieldwalking will continue later in the summer and autumn.

Residents have been busy undertaking research into the history of their own house or property and arrangements have been made with Lavenham Press for publication & printing of a book charting the history of Foxearth as evidenced from work done during the project. Anyone having problems with their research should contact Corinne for assistance.
A video recording of life in the village and interviews with all its residents has begun and will continue throughout the summer holiday period with the assistance of young volunteers in the village. Residents will be contacted to arrange suitable convenient times for their own interview sessions.
If you want to follow the progress of the detective work so far, pop into the church and look at the displays & information there. We are hoping to post updates on various websites & social media during the summer months….more details later.
Thank you to all those who are helping with our project…it’s not too late to get involved if you aren’t already !! We’ve recently had some volunteers involved with the Access Cambridge Archaeology & Managing a Masterpiece who want to join our project and we thank them for offering their time.

Corinne Cox (Project Leader FCHI )