News

Lottery gives thousands to local Preston “Time Team”

21 October 2011

Local Preston residents will have new opportunities to uncover their local history thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The award of £28,400 will pay for an archaeological dig on the Preston estate, supported by Raven Housing Trust and the Preston Community Archaeology Project, which will involve local people and promote awareness, interest and involvement in Preston's fascinating history.

Before any housing was built on the Preston estate, local archaeologist Brian Hope Taylor excavated a medieval manor in an area near to Preston Lane and Marbles Way in 1952. No report on the work was produced, and the finds and records ended up in boxes in Guildford and Scotland.

Since 2008 a group of local residents have met regularly to work on the finds and records and try to make sense of the site. Although progress has been made, there are several questions that can only be answered by re-digging the original trenches, excavated between 1952 and 1954, with the help of modern archaeological techniques.

Laurence Nasskau, Raven's neighbourhood manager based on the Preston estate said: "A community excavation has never been carried out on the Preston estate before. This project provides local people with opportunities to experience a new activity, meet new people, work together as part of a team, learn new skills and improve local historical knowledge. We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting this exciting project. It will enable people to become directly involved in finding out about Preston's past through the dig, workshops and events on their doorstep."

The project will be led by Surrey County Archaeological Unit (part of Surrey County Council), and is supported by financial contributions from Raven Housing Trust and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council. Anyone interested in getting involved should contact the community archaeology team on 01483 518737, email education.scau@surreycc.gov.uk or visit the website www.surreycc.gov.uk/digpreston  

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