A five day archaeological excavation at Fulbeck Manor has unearthed relics from across the centuries.
South Kesteven District Council helped to organise Digging Market Garden to search for traces of WW2 military heritage at a location rich in airborne forces heritage.
Funded by the University of Oxford and organised in partnership with Lincoln University and military charities, the dig drew military veterans, serving soldiers and their families as volunteers, together with specialist detectorists.
The excavated trenches yielded bullets, uniform buttons, a kit tag, engine parts, and foundations and drains from the time that the British First Airborne Division occupied the Manor and grounds in the 1944 build up to Arnhem. They also revealed unexpected traces from much older occupations of the site, including a substantial medieval building.
All finds will be carefully researched and catalogued, with the dig seen as a possible springboard into more archaeological explorations across our airborne forces-related sites.
Cllr Richard Dixon Warren, SKDC Armed Forces Champion, said: “The whole event has been an absolute triumph and one that we were proud to be part of. We had no idea what we would find, but it’s been a fascinating voyage of discovery conducted in the most amazing, focused and positive atmosphere.
“It has proved what an appetite there is for further knowledge about our WW2 and airborne forces heritage.”
Prof Tim Clack, University of Oxford said, “We have demonstrated not only the archaeological potential of digs such as this but local community interest and the viability of partnerships with the council, other universities and military charities.
“We have found an intricate tapestry of WW2 heritage and one that has enabled us unearth all sorts of other items of interest to museums.
“Memory is fragile and Digging Market Garden has also led to some amazing memory capture before it disappears. Not only did locals visit the site to share their stories and memories but, since the dig, the team has been contacted by others keen to share relevant family histories, photographs and records”
Digging Market Garden also prompted a packed Friday night talk ‘By Air to Battle: South Kesteven’s Airborne Heritage’ by Brian Riley. The talk was introduced by Judy Urquhart, daughter of Major General Roy Urquhart, commander British First Airborne Division in 1944.
Saturday’s Public Open Day invited people onto the dig site with huge interest in the Village Hall exhibition of military memorabilia displays and military re-enactors.