Bingham Heritage Trails Association is currently working on an HLF-funded project called the Roots and Development of Bingham, which will finish in January 2015. One part of the project involves detailed studies of a number of old houses in Bingham, a market town in south Nottinghamshire. The other part is a programme of 1-metre test pits. The aim here is to collect evidence on the origins of the town.
It is thought that the first village came into being during the 9th or 10th century, when Anglo-Saxon settlements in the vicinity of the parish manor united near the church. There is also some evidence of Roman and late Iron Age settlement at Bingham.
Numerous test pits have been excavated to investigate the date when the Medieval street grid came into existence. Others are sited around the edge of what was once believed to be a deserted Medieval village.
Digging will take place every week from the second half of April to July. The project is free for volunteers and no experience is required. All ages are welcome, although the majority of current volunteers are over retirement age. Training is provided by experienced members of the team.
