Click Here to view photographs of the progress of the DIG

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded £48,300 to Tameside Local History Forum so they can undertake a community archaeology project on the site of Newton Hall in Tameside, it has been announced today.

TAMESIDE LOCAL HISTORY FORUM membership is made up of 30 Local/Family history groups, Civic Societies, Canals, Church’s, Museum’s, Countryside and Conservation representatives and individuals, promoting the history of the nine Towns in the Borough of Tameside, G.M.

The lost history of Newton Hall project is designed to investigate the historical development of the site through a series of archaeological/historical tasks by Tameside Local History Forum.

Under guidance from professional archaeologists from the University of Salford the work will be carried out by members of the local community in April 2012.

Excavation work will be used as a foundation for a series of educational opportunities by holding several workshops and seminars on archaeological techniques prior to and following the excavation.

These work-shops will equip local people and volunteers with new skills and encourage future projects. Young people through local schools will have the opportunity to take part in the excavation based around their National Curriculum subjects and carry out follow up studies in the classroom and in the field.

Newton Hall is thought to originally have been a medieval manor house, a grade 11 listed building c1380 privately owned and restored by W. Kenyon & Sons. It is one of the few surviving cruck buildings in the region.

QUOTE; Chris Clough said “The site of Newton Hall has a long and interesting history and it is thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Christopher Kenyon that the local residents and schools are able to investigate the development of Newton Hall and learn new skills enabling them to take part in this and other similar projects. Tameside Local History Forum is delighted with this award and look forward to working with all those concerned with the project.

Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said “We at HLF are delighted to be able to support the Tameside Local History Forum in their exploration of Newton Hall’s history. This project will provide fantastic opportunities for people from across the community to get involved in the excavation and other activities, and learn about the heritage of their local area.”