As you may know, we are in the throes of applying for Heritage Lottery Funding for the major Old Place excavation later this year. We have already received numerous Letters of Support from members of the public and academics alike, for which we are truly grateful. Thanks to all who continue to support us in these crucial early stages of the Group's formation.


The application is on track for completion and finally posting later this week. It is an impressive tome and members of the Group have spent many long hours of their own time working on every minor detail to ensure we have every chance of a successful application.

Fingers crossed!!!

Progress updates will be posted here first!

I can't believe we're almost in June already! So much has happened in the Group over the past few months that it's been a struggle to keep up!

We can now reveal details of our upcoming events planned for the latter half of 2014,  as well as pictures from last month's launch event at The National Centre for Craft & Design in Sleaford.

See the 'Events' section for more details!

Simon Pawley has also provided us with details of the ever popular annual Les Gostick Memorial Walk, hosted by Sleaford History Group. This year just happens to be Old Sleaford themed - what luck! This event will no doubt be invaluable to members and non-members alike.

The Heritage Lottery Fund application for the 2014 excavation is still ongoing. As soon as we have an update you'll hear it here first!

Come and join us this Saturday for our inaugural event at The National Centre for Craft & Design, Sleaford!

We are also very proud to announce that well known and respected local archaeologist Francis Pryor MBE will be joining us during the day, whom many of you will know from his appearances on Channel 4's Time Team.

Bring your own finds and curiosities along and maybe Francis or one of the professional members of the group will be able to identify and date them for you!

See you on Saturday!

Here's a couple of photos of what was originally a pile of ten sherds of pottery excavated from the test trench dug at Old Place in July 2013, which led to the foundation of OSHG.

As a complete amateur in the field of archaeology, the webmaster somehow managed to get these ten sherds to fit back together without welding his fingers and this together! Quite a feat for an IT guy!

So, why not join us next Saturday 26th April at The Hub in Sleaford at our launch event?

Francis Pryor of Time Team fame will be visiting and I'll be taking my pride and joy below along for expert dating and discover more details about the find.

Still can't believe we have these beautiful ancient artefacts on our doorstep!

http://www.oldsleaford.org.uk/archaeology.html

During our research, we recently discovered that Old Place, Sleaford was loaned by the Marquis of Bristol for use as a military hospital during World War One.
Amazingly, through the power of social media, we discovered through members of the 'Sleaford Past' Facebook group that a brass plaque was sold on eBay last year, once mounted at Old Place, acknowledging the buildings use as a hospital.

The solid brass plaque measures 14.5 inches x 7 inches and reads:

"The South Lincolnshire branch of the British Red Cross Society gratefully acknowledges the loan of this building as an auxiliary military hospital from 19th November 1914 to 31st December 1918. 50 Beds, 1010 patients treated. Staffed by VADs Lincoln 38 and 15"

If you have seen the plaque or know of its location, we'd love to hear from you! It would be wonderful to return it to it's rightful place!

The Constitution for the Old Sleaford Heritage Group was officially signed on Friday and now available to view on the website! I guess that means we're officially up and running!
http://www.oldsleaford.org.uk/constitution.html

We've had a great response already from professionals, friends and most importantly, local residents. It's a project for the community after all!

There are many ideas already brewing for the year ahead, including our main dig event in the centuries old gardens at Old Place as well as walks, talks and other educational events.

Keep tuned - some exciting news about a side project may be just around the corner...