DILTON Marsh WI welcomed Bill Jarvis from their local history society to talk about past and present discoveries in the village.
The society has been greatly enabled by lottery funding in ‘Digging for Dilton’. They were inspired by Till Valley Archaeological Society looking at the changes taking place over time, featuring people, places, building use and the village shape and size. There have been 16 cesspits dug so far starting at Clearwood to Old Dilton around Dilton Court Farm to Fairfield.
Old Dilton is the oldest and original village, from AD to 1600. Neolithic pottery, Bronze age, Ironstone and Roman samples have been found. Clay pipes from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries have also been found, distinguishable from each other by the shape of the pipe and by the pipe tampers.
Victorian pottery, early 20th century glass bottles and a GW Rail tag added to the mix with ceramic building materials. Most exciting maybe is a floor which was discovered during the dig, along with flint tools. The next step for the society is to work out the village buildings using mapping.
Stories of local businesses, to build a social picture and memories from local people of what they know or have heard, will all add to a fascinating picture of the place where we live. Gardens anywhere in the village would be welcomed to add to the history.
Tumultuous applause and thanks were given to the speaker. President Alison Irving announced that the Autumn Council Meeting was taking place on August 28th and a village fete on September 17th; also the tea, coffee and cake stall at Larkrise was a great success Next month’s meeting is a talk by Ashley Jones on ‘Removals’. Come along and join us.
Liz Lee