I spent an hour with the farmer this morning finding out which fields we could or couldn't detect on and to be quite honest I lost count
but it's fair to say that all being well there is enough land for another 4 rallies on this farm...it's bleeding huge!
Many of the fields are of the 15 to 25 acre variety and have decided, dependent on finds, to use only 4 or 5 fields this time around
When Taff first asked me what I thought of this farm my reaction was very enthusiastic just going by Google Earth but then we found that the farm wasn't where we thought it was which moved the obvious land further north which although having a Roman road didn't fill me with as much confidence so it was a nice surprise to find that GE had been right all along and the land covers one of "the lost islands of Somerset" with it sat on a plateau out of what was once marsh land on three sides and backed by the Polden hills to the north and so similarly to the Christmas rally at Bridgwater of a few years ago the site has history concentrated in to a confined area due to the levels.
Our northerly field is a mere 100m from the back of the church which is first mentioned in the 12thC with the village itself mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086 stating that the village owes the same taxes as it did in 1066 with also a hint of it's existence by a grant made to Glastonbury Abbey in 729 but there is even earlier evidence in the form of Roman pottery and coins together with a Roman burial all found in trial trenching on the north side of our fields,the Church is believed to be built on a pre Christian structure and all this together with Roman field ditches point to a settlement close by which is yet to be found........maybe Saturday,
I walked across one field this morning which is 720m from the church and in the short length I walked I managed to find 3 pieces of Roman Severn Valley Ware.
I asked the farmer if the land had been detected and his answer was "yes one chap used to come here but I think he must have given up as I haven't seen him for ages" and when asked did he ever find anything interesting he said "no not that he ever showed me anyway" so read in to that what you may, I know I do.
This has been an arable farm with all fields regularly ploughed so many finds shouldn't be too deep and my thoughts are that hammies will turn up in the northern fields with Roman having a scattering all over and I wouldn't rule out the Bronze Age putting in an appearance either.
Although there is a lot of documented history for the village physical evidence is thin on the ground so can I ask all to please please make the effort to record all your finds from this one as it will help put flesh on the bones.
Chef's rating 8.5 out of 10
Good Luck and HH
