5th August 2019:
OA East are commencing the second of two seasons of community excavation at the site of a former Benedictine Abbey at Ramsey, Cambridgeshire.
Last year, a local community group completed the first comprehensive geophysical survey of the area formerly occupied by Ramsey Abbey, which is now in the grounds of Abbey College, the secondary school in Ramsey. Ramsey Abbey Community Project successfully applied to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a grant to excavate some of the potential archaeological anomalies identified by their survey and to run public events to raise the profile of this important heritage site.
Oxford Archaeology East supervised the first season of excavation last August which involved over 30 volunteers. These interventions located the eastern side of the abbey precinct boundary and a post-medieval brick clamp kiln (for more information, see our article: https://oxfordarchaeology.com/news/814-investigating-the-monastic-precinct-of-ramsey-abbey). This August, we return again to Abbey College with the Ramsey Abbey Community Project to investigate an area of high resistance which may represent building foundations.
Thanks to funding from National Lottery players, there will be a Medieval-themed open weekend on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th August 2019. All are welcome to the free event in the grounds of Abbey College to view the excavation areas and see medieval reenactors displaying skills, crafts and weapons including long bow archery and siege war machinery. Refreshments and toilets will be provided on site and there will be free entry to other heritage sites in and around the site of Ramsey Abbey including the Abbey Gatehouse, Lady Chapel, Abbey House and the Walled Kitchen Garden. The event will be open between 10am and 4pm each day.
For updates on the excavations findings, make sure to check in with the Ramsey Abbey Community Project website: https://ramseyabbeyresearch.org.uk/
