Based in Greater Manchester, the Trust was founded in 2000 after the discovery in 1998 of an Iron Age ditch in the garden of The Old Vicarage next to Mellor Church. Excavations continued until 2009 and have been described as the largest for a generation of a hillfort in North West England. The project turned up finds from Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romano-British and Medieval times.
In 2007, the Trust extended its activities to cover the whole Parish of Mellor. Digs, which are continuing annually, at the Bronze Age burial site of Shaw Cairn on Mellor Moor uncovered almost 100 amber beads in 2008 and 2009. Current work is focused on Mellor Mill, an impressive cotton mill dating from 1790-92.
The group runs events, heritage days and holiday meals for members, and their website features several publications and DVDs available for purchase.
Contact Details
Website: http://www.mellorarchaeology.org.uk/
