LBDAHS Archaeology

LBDAHS Archaeology is a highly active community archaeology group dedicated to exploring, recording, and preserving our local heritage for current and future generations.

LBDAHS Archaeology projects span a huge time period, highlighting the long and rich history of the Leighton Linslade area – from a 10,000-year-old Mesolithic encampment overlooking the Ousel water meadows, to Bronze Age pottery in Heath and Reach, early C7 Saxon burials near Hockliffe, Victorian clay pipe production in Bassett Road, and the search for the famed medieval Holy Well in Old Linslade, a highly popular attraction for pilgrims from across the land in the C13.

LBDAHS Archaeology’s activities include a wide range of techniques, from direct excavations at selected sites, to geophysics surveys, LIDAR mapping, field walking, finds analysis, historical research, and the reporting of all our activities and finds in publications and presentations for the benefit of LBDAHS members and the local community.

Made up of volunteer members of LBDAHS, we also work closely with students from local schools, professional archaeologists, Leighton Linslade Town Council, local firms, and other community archaeology groups in the area.

If you would like to know more about LBDAHS Archaeology, or would be interested in getting involved yourself, please contact: info@lbdahs.org.uk 

Recent Updates

4th December 2023

10,000 Years of History - Past LBDAHS Digs & Finds

LBDAHS Archaeology Projects:

  • Pond Meadow, Heath and Reach - Medieval  (Dug 2006/2007)
  • Experiment Pot firing. Reconstruction of pots. School visits and Magnetometry survey at site. (2007)
  • Stone Lane Quarry, Heath and Reach (Watching Brief: Iron age pottery, late Bronze age) (2006)
  • Stone Age Hunter/Gatherer Encampment, Plantation Road - Mesolithic (10,000 years ago). (2007) 
  • Earthworks investigation at Whipsnade (no origin identified) (2008)
  • Test Pit Gig Lane, Heath and Reach Victorian pottery (2009)
  • Excavation 27 Rothschild Road Post medieval pottery Possible site of navvies construction of nearby canal or railway. (2009)
  • Bassett Road - (Test pits in Back garden site of Victorian clay pipe manufacturer, and air-raid shelter) (2012)
  • Quern Stone, Leighton Buzzard Golf Course now on display (2012)
  • Ascott Estate fieldwalking and finds (2013)
  • Southcourt Stud Excavations, civil war finds. Terminal moraine of glacier (2013)
  • Mystery of 700 blacking bottles, Heath Road, Victorian era (2014)
  • Saxon Burials, Hockliffe: jewelry and other graves goods (2015)
  • Incised stone from Saxon burial site circa 700 from Plantation Road (2008)
  • Overend Green - Deserted Village - Medieval (site survey only) (2016)
  • Goose Lodge Hockliffe, medieval village outskirts (2016)
  • Bridge Street Excavation, medieval, looking for the Angel Inn
  • Linslade Saxon burh topographical investigation (2014/15)
  • St Mary the Virgin, Eaton Bray and the stone coffin (2017)
  • Holy Well, Old Linslade – (Two digs) First (2018) Medieval & 17th Century Civil War remains. Second (2019 onwards) extensive evidence of Medieval occupation, plus even older finds

  • LBDAHS Archaeology Team Participation:
  • Boarstall Tower (near Bicester) members assist National Trust dig. (2008)
  • Wing Heritage Digs, Wing (7-year community project) - Saxon 
  • Manton Lane Roman Villa, Bedford (2014-15)
  • Monks Risborough rescue dig, Anglo-Saxon finds (2013)
  • Three Locks Pumphouse – Bucks Archaeology – Victorian (2017)

 

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