Pole Cottage, Longmynd: Community Excavation & Open Days
Pole Cottage Community Excavation and Open Days – 11 to 20 July 2022
Pole Cottage, a small enclosure in the middle of the common, on the top of the Longmynd near the highest point, is named after the Ordinance Survey pole that once stood near there. It has been home to shepherds, game keepers and eccentric bird of prey enthusiasts. The cottage itself has long vanished but volunteers under the guidance of National Trust archaeologists have been finding out about this interesting place including a site survey and some archival research and we are recording a timeline of social history for it.
As part of the National Festival of Archaeology, you can be part of excavations to determine where exactly the cottage stood and if there was anything else on the site, perhaps prior to the cottage. Our field archaeologist Matt Williams will guide volunteers on this dig starting on Monday 11th July and closing on Wednesday 20th July. However, to take part (between 10am and 3pm on each day), booking is essential.
Please email renee@foundationforcommonland.org.uk or phone 07929 726337 to register your interest to take part during any or several of the nine days the community excavation is on.
Site Open Days
Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th July again between 10am and 3pm, we are throwing the gates open for two family friendly public open days. There will be a talks and tours, and children’s activities and you will be able to see the volunteers at work in one of four trenches. We will have a display of photographs, maps and information and hopefully some trench finds to show you too. And of course we would like anyone with their own stories and memories to come and share them with us too! There will be two talks/tours of the excavation each day lasting about 45 minutes each, one starts at 11am and this is repeated at 2pm. Following on from these there is a further tour/talk of the wider site and archaeological features so allow about 1 and ¼ hour for each. There will be ample time for questions!
If you are coming by Shuttlebus, if you leave the bus at the Shooting box stop, it is a short walk along the Shropshire Way via the toposcope on Pole bank and you can take in the (hopefully) glorious views on the way.
Please note though, the top of the Longmynd can be windy and the weather can sometimes close in quickly. There are no facilities on the site (the nearest loos and refreshments are either in the town of Church Stretton or at the National Trust tearoom in Carding Mill Valley) so please come prepared for different weather conditions. If you are coming by car, there is a small carpark next to the Pole Cottage site and there is also a carpark at the Shooting Box. Please do not leave your car on the side of the narrow road.
