Roots in Time
Hidden history on your doorstep
Roots in Time was generously funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England to explore and share the archaeology of a new woodland at Norton, near Evesham. During summer 2022, a community excavation investigated millennia of stories buried within this landscape. Geophysical survey of the site had revealed an Iron Age or Romano-British settlement, trackways and possibly earlier prehistoric activity too. Thanks to the excavation, we now have a window into what really went on, who lived there and when.
The woodland, wildflower meadows and wetland have been designed around the archaeology and is now a new public green space – New Farm Nature Reserve – owned by Worcestershire County Council and accessed from The Valley. Find out below how to get there and what you’ll find on site.
Directions to New Farm Nature Reserve
New Farm Nature Reserve is a 15-20 minute stroll from The Valley, just outside Evesham.
Once at The Valley, walk past the train to the end of the car park, where there is a gravel track behind a metal gate. An information and map board is located here (see precise location on What3Words). Following Skylark waymarker discs, walk down a gravel track to the river, then turn left. Follow the footpath, keeping left at the fork. The site entrance is just after the old railway bridge.
Please be aware that the final section of the route is not accessible to wheelchairs or pushchairs. Cafes serving refreshments and visitor toilets are available at The Valley. The Valley is home to a garden centre, 22 shops, 4 eateries, riverside walks, Evesham Vale Light Railway, and a children’s play area.
Getting to The Valley
The Valley is accessible by bus or car from the northern end of the Evesham bypass (A46) at its junction with the Stratford Road. Once on the Evesham bypass follow the brown tourist signs marked Evesham Country Park (the site’s former name). Take the turning for the petrol station and Premier Inn, then turn immediately left into The Valley’s entrance.
You’ll find Sanctum along the old railway line that runs along the bottom of New Farm Nature Reserve. Here you can sit, enjoy the view and let your mind wander back in time.
The mosaics inside Sanctum were created with the Evesham Dementia Meeting Group, Freedom Day Centre and local residents using recycled materials. The timber is from a local sustainable saw mill. The sculpture was designed and created by Spare Room Arts, with the help of KPW Restorations, taking inspiration from the site’s Roman archaeology and new woodland.
Drawing of Sanctum, by Spare Room Arts
On site, you will find a series of 6 illustrated information panels about the archaeology uncovered. An audio trail of creative writing is linked to these boards, which imagines some of the human stories connected to the site’s heritage. Listen as you wander along, and immerse yourself in the hidden tales of local lives long ago – who lived on, worked and enjoyed this land over the centuries?
Part 1: Below our feet
We walk on the ground and never stop to think what is underneath us…
Part 2: Two thousand years of life
A Roman farmstead once existed on this site. Step back with us almost 2000 years to soak up the sights and sounds.
Part 3: Fingers & thumbs
Every buried object has stories to tell – this is a collection of tales that we might hear, if only artefacts could talk.
Ourside Youth Centre and Spare Room Arts created the beautiful panels. The audio trail was edited by Jean Atkin and is a combination of poems, short stories and riddles written by Ourside Youth Centre, MJ Bomyer, Sally King and Fiona Rice.
People have lived on this site by the River Avon for centuries. Delve into the imagined lives of these Iron Age farmers, Roman travellers, soldiers, potters and rascals. Their stories and secrets have lain hidden for years in the objects they left behind, but our storyteller has the power to bring them to life again! Listen below at the silly, scary and downright hilarious things they (might have) got up to.
These stories are written and performed by Ian Craigan. Artwork is by Kate Brookes 2024.
An Iron Age Hunt
© Kate Brookes 2024
This story is inspired by fragments of pot found at the earliest part of the site. Excavation revealed a cluster of pits and ditches from the Iron Age, over 2000 years ago and before the Roman army arrived in Britain. The largest ditch seems to have been an enclosure about 20m wide – just large enough to fit one roundhouse inside. It contained fragile pottery from the Middle Iron Age (400 – 100 BC).
Parental advisory – Suitable for 5 yrs upwards: story contains descriptions of danger and threat.
Roman Tricksters
© Kate Brookes 2024
This story is inspired by a Samian Ware cup found during the excavation; the maker’s stamp reads, POTTACVS. Only one workshop, 500 miles away in central Gaul (modern-day France), is known to have had this name.
A Roman road ran near the site. Excavations revealed the edge of a settlement much like most other Roman farmsteads in the area, except lots of the Roman pots found were drinking vessels – cups, beakers and tankards. Usually, over half the pots from Worcestershire’s Roman farmsteads are storage jars. Travellers in the past (as today) needed places to stop on long journeys. Offering drinks to passers-by was perhaps a bit of extra income for those living here, alongside farming and other activities.
Parental advisory – Suitable for 5 yrs upwards: story contains comic descriptions of verbal & physical aggression.
Kitchen Capers
© Kate Brookes 2024
This story is inspired by a small find of Roman crockery that had been repaired with metal rivets. The excavation also found a few small – and unusual – signs of metalworking: an iron chisel in a style good for cutting hot metal and a fragment of what appears to be hearth lining.
Parental advisory – Suitable for 5 yrs upwards: story contains descriptions of fear and excitement.
Take a look at the excavation report
You can still find the dig diary updates that were posted on social media during the excavation by searching for #RootsInTime. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Christmas 2022 newsletter – insights from finds processing
March 2023 newsletter – initial finds analysis
June 2023 newsletter – excavation summary
As the project is now over no more events are planned, but you can see below what we got up to during the project.
Previous events:
- Storytelling: Tales through Time – 28th May 2024
- Living History Day – 11th May 2024
- Excavation talk – 9th Nov 2023
- Artefact handling session – 7th Nov 2023
- Wildlife walk – 3nd Nov 2023
- Hidden tales of local lives long ago – 28th June, 30th June & 14th July 2023
- Be part of it! Roots in Time sculpture – 9th July 2023
- Excavation Open Day – 17th Sept 2022
You can get in touch with us by email, phone or post:
explorethepast@worcestershire.gov.uk
WAAS Outreach, The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester, WR1 3PD
01905 766352 (Outreach Team) or 844090 (Project Officer)
We are delighted that the project was recognised at the Archaeological Achievement Awards 2023, run by the Council for British Archaeology, by winning two categories – Archaeology & Sustainability and Outstanding Achievement. Thank you to all involved!
THE NATIONAL LOTTERY HERITAGE FUND
Using money raised by The National Lottery, we inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
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