Hyde900: ‘Want your garden dug?’ How the community archaeological excavation of Hyde Abbey is revealing its historic layout. An illustrated talk by Dr John Crook

For the past six years Hyde900 has organised annual community excavations in the private gardens of residents of this area of Winchester, site of the claustral buildings of one of England’s foremost abbeys, built by order of Henry I as a successor to Winchester’s Anglo-Saxon New Minster, burial place of King Alfred and his family.

These excavations, monitored of course by professional archaeologists, continue a series of investigations that have been undertaken on the abbey site since 1982, including a previous community project in 1995-9, during the final year of which the east end of the abbey church was excavated. The current Hyde900 project is mainly located in the area of the monastic cloister and the buildings surrounding it.

Dr John Crook, architectural historian and archaeological consultant, is the historical architectural advisor for the Hyde900 community project. In his illustrated talk he will explain how the excavations allow us to understand more fully the extent of the church, and the layout of the monks’ domestic accommodation, which was centred around a cloister. Elements of the finely decorated cloister arcade were amongst the first major discoveries in April 2017, and many important finds have been made since then, some of which will be on display during the Open Days.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 14 September:

1500-1600

Location & directions

St Bartholomew's Church, King Alfred Place, Hyde, Winchester, Hampshire, SO237DF

Directions:

There are a number of ways to find us: 1.)Hop on a King Alfred Vintage Bus (participating in the Heritage Open Day). There are regular free bus trips from Winchester city centre to Hyde (approx 10 minutes) and back. 2.) Follow a trail from Winchester city centre to Hyde (aimed at children but everyone will enjoy discovering interesting facts). Pick up the trail from Winchester City Museum and solve the clues. 3.) Follow a City Walk to Hyde: Alfred's Final Journey (available from the Tourist Information Office) 4.) Nearby Car Parks: Coach Park SO23 7EL, Worthy Lane SO23 7AB, River Park SO23 7DQ, St Peter's SO23 7DD

Contact on day:

Francesca Sluman

Telephone number:

+447811735871

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Early booking is advisable.

Booking website:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/hampshire-history-trust

Additional information

Max no of people per tour:

60

Est. tour duration:

1 hour(s)

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