Archaeological Dig Kicks Off Heritage Project In Coastal Northumberland Village

• Nationally acclaimed archaeologist Barry Mead leads excavation at key Cambois site
• Dig explores local history and culture as part of the Cambois Hidden Depths heritage project
• Various multi-disciplinary arts initiatives will culminate in groundbreaking showcase event in September

Community Archaeologist Barry Mead has been working with children from Cambois Primary School to delve into the site’s past as part of the Cambois Hidden Depths project.

Barry, who was awarded the Community Archaeologist of the Year award in 2018 by the Council for British Archaeology and the Marsh Trust, worked with children from the school to uncover artefacts from the village’s former Victorian school.

Community Archaeologist Barry Mead commented: “We’re working with the children from Cambois Primary School as part of the Cambois Hidden Depths project. What we’ve been doing is excavating outside the school on what we believe was the site of Cambois’ First Primary School, which was built here back in the 1860s.

It has been absolutely brilliant and the kids have worked so hard, and we found loads of stuff related to what was the original building. We found bricks, we found bits of broken roof slate, we found mortar, we found window glass, we’ve found pottery and even found sewer pipes – so we’ve proved they had running water here as well.

“The kids have been brilliant. Some of them didn’t even want to have their tea breaks, their lunch breaks. The excitement of digging soil, you never know what you’re going to find. It’s just been absolutely brilliant. The kids have been a credit to their school as well.

Ryan Longstaff, Deputy Headteacher at Cambois Primary School, added: “It has been fantastic to welcome Barry into the school and encourage the children to get involved in the excavation. Cambois has such a rich unexplored history, and to be able to learn about our past has been phenomenal.”

Led by November Club, funded by The Heritage Fund and Arts Council England and supported by Northumberland County Council, Cambois Hidden Depths is a multi-disciplinary project encouraging local people to explore the history of Cambois through art, photography, dance and storytelling.

The excavation marks the first of a series of initiatives across the village in collaboration with The Tute, culminating in a highly anticipated showcase event in Cambois on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th September. 

To learn more about Cambois Hidden Depths and keep up to date with upcoming events, go to https://www.novemberclub.org.uk/whatson/cambois-hidden-depths-1.