Revealing Ankerwycke

During Festival of Archaeology 2022 the National Trust are taking the opportunity to undertake a research excavation at Ankerwycke. Today Ankerwycke is potentially more renowned for the Ankerwycke Yew, which at over 2,000 years old is one of the National Trust’s oldest tree. However the site would have looked very different if you stood under this tree as time rewound around you. Ankerwycke has been the location of a Benedictine nunnery founded by Gilbert de Montfichet in around 1160 and was dissolved in 1536. In 1550 Sir Thomas Smith took ownership of Ankerwycke and he built an imposing Tudor house. At the beginning of the 19th century nearly all of the Tudor house was demolished in favour of a new one to the north. The remaining part of the house was kept as a picturesque ruin and adapted to became pleasure grounds. Though we know the history of the site there is very little contemporary evidence for the plan and exterior appearance of the nunnery and the Tudor house. Recent geophysical survey has shown how much material from the site’s history survives buried beneath the grass.

The National Trust and Surrey County Archaeology Unit have acquired Historic England consent to undertake a community research excavation as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund project, “Runnymede Explored”. During the 10-day community dig we will be sharing daily dig updates at teatime across National Trust social media accounts so keep up to date by following National Trust and National Trust Archaeology on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok

The site is open to the public, but there is very restricted parking so please check out: Runnymede and Ankerwycke website for information or consider walking from Wraysbury Train Station.