Randall Manor, Shorne Woods
Archaeology events at Shorne Woods
Free Archaeology in the Park
Saturday 29 June to Sunday 28 July, 11am-3pm
Come and visit our annual excavation at Randall Manor. Meet the
team, take a free tour and see the latest
finds. Read
our flyer for more details (PDF, 986k).
Free Archaeology Guided Walk
Saturday 28 September,
10.30am-12.30pm
Booking required at the Visitor Centre or on 0300 333 6488. A
gentle walk around the park, across slight gradients and with some
steps.
Randall Manor Dig
From Saturday 29 June to Sunday 28 July 2013, volunteers
and local schools, led by Kent County Council archaeologists, will
spend an eighth year excavating Randall Manor, in
Shorne Woods Country Park. The park is
just north of the A2 between Rochester and Gravesend.
Read our 2010 Randall Manor Dig
Blog or watch a film
about the dig
The Manor of Randall was occupied for over 100 years by the de
Cobham family.
The
community-based project has been uncovering the foundations of this
13th century Manor, that was slowly lost within the woods.
Although nothing survives above ground, the Manor sits on a
rectangular platform, with a series of fish ponds running along one
side.
The project started in 2006 as a one week dig. You
can:
So far archaeologists have looked at the kitchen building,
complete with massive stone hearth, the bakery, the store buildings
and the fish ponds. In 2009 they began to examine the main
buildings of the Manor, where the Lord would have lived. In 2010
this work continued, as well as looking at the Lord's toilet! We
also worked with local schools to uncover the original courtyard of
the Manor.
During this year's dig, updates will be posted on Facebook and
summarised on here.
Followers will be able to hear from the frontline as diggers
share their experiences and pictures are published of their
discoveries.
We are also on the Festival of Archaeology
website.
