Ripon Community Archaeology Project

Latest news…

The next three months brings the current phase of our work to a conclusion after four years fascinating study.

This desktop study of archaeological records, historic maps and aerial photographs of Ripon City and eleven surrounding parishes will have led to the addition of nearly 2500 entries to the County Database at the Heritage Unit at Northallerton.

The data, with related reports, will be available at our Local Studies Research Centre and, at some stage in the future, also on this website.

The project has progressed through weekly meetings on Friday mornings at Copt Hewick Village Hall under the watchful eyes of Kevin Cale, a professional Community Archaeologist. The work has been funded through the Countryside Agency by the Local Heritage Initiative Lottery Fund.

We have held two public ‘Finds Day’ events which have led to the listing of nearly 100 artefacts that had not previously been recorded. Highlights included a Neolithic polished greenstone hand axe, a flint arrowhead and many coins.

Other events have included exhibitions, presentations of our work and the development of links with schools and parish councils.

We hope to start a further project later this year and would be pleased to welcome new members.

Dr David Rivers

A GLIMPSE OF YOUR PAST

The Ripon Community Archaeology Project began in 2002 as part of the Ripon Local Studies Research Centre with the professional assistance of local archaeologist Kevin Cale. The Project is staffed by more than a dozen retired volunteers who gather information on parishes in the Ripon area. Some 2800 records are held on the group’s database, together with more than 160 different maps. These range from the earliest 1 st Edition 6” Ordnance Survey to the modern “Explorer” maps. In addition there are approximately 150 aerial photographs of differing ages.

The information at present available can be purchased as either a separate parish or as a set. These are not a history of the parish, but an account of observations made as a result of studying maps from 1856 to the present day. Aerial photographs date from between 1933 and 1986. Also noted are all the artefacts as well as earlier records of archaeological data drawn from regional and national records.

A GLIMPSE OF YOUR PAST :

Parishes available:

ASENBY £1-00
DISHFORTH £1-00
MARTON-LE-MOOR £2-00
NORTON-LE-CLAY £1-00
RAINTON-WITH-NEWBY £2-00
WATH, MELMERBY
MIDDLETON QUERNHOW £2-50
PLEASE ADD £0-50 FOR POSTAGE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PARISH.
COMPLETE SET : £7-50 plus £2-50 postage.

*******THESE POSTAL RATES APPLY TO U.K. ONLY*********

Enquiries and remittances to Derek Edmondson 18 Hell Wath Grove Ripon North Yorkshire HG4 2JT
derek.edmondson@btopenworld.com
Cheques to “Ripon Local studies Research Centre”