Archaeology project to begin in town's gardens

THERE will be enthusiastic digging in gardens in a Northumberland town this weekend - but it will be the past and not plants which will be the centre of attention.

- TONY HENDERSON

On July 19-20, volunteers with Community Archaeology North will be excavating small test pits in an initial five gardens in Hexham at the start of a project which aims to plot how the town developed.

The not for profit community interest company allows volunteers to experience and learn about archaeology, with projects also involving working with local history and community groups and schools.

The community interest company is run by professional archaeologists Dr Jane Harrison, Sarah Miles and Kathryn Murphy

Although the history of Hexham Abbey is well documented and there has been a church on the site for over 1,300 years, little is known about how the town evolved