By Bridie Adams
A HEREFORDSHIRE excavation got off to a flying start after being formally opened by TV presenter Kate Bliss.
Bliss, from the village of Byford near Hereford, spoke to young people involved in excavating at the Weobley Big Dig.
Among the finds so far is an unusual oyster shell discovered by Matt Starnes, whose wife Emily runs the popular Green Bean café and delicatessen in Weobley, in their High Street garden which borders the castle outer bailey. Even this far inland, it appears that oysters were a significant and affordable part of the diet hundreds of years ago.
The first coin was found on the first day, in a paddock exploration near the castle boundary owned by Mike and Jo Ware who live nearby.
A George III penny was found by a visitor from Dallas in the US and was probably equivalent to a day’s wages when it was minted around 1800.
Excavating and sieving at the first nine out of 26 pits revealed fragments which are being pored over by a specialist archaeological team led by Tim Hoverd, while three of the sites contain structures thought to be at least 150 years old.
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A documents specialist is comparing the finds with information from Weobley museum’s historic records and illustrations to find out what kind of buildings were in the medieval village alongside the castle.
The small ringwork and bailey castle in the ancient settlement of Weobley belonged to the De Lacy family until the 13th century when it was taken into the possession of the crown. All that remains of the castle today are earthworks.
The Big Dig goes on until June 11.
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