Exciting Roman geophys in Sherborne

You may remember that I flagged some interesting work by the NT ongoing down near the Windrush. There is a known Roman site of some sort down there, and then we noticed this crop mark in the same sort of place.

The NT have used some DEFRA funding to conduct an archealogical geophysical survey down there. The results are remarkable. Here’s an extract showing a very complex Romano-British/Iron age site. You don’t have to be an archaeologist to see the dramatic implications of this survey. There’s a lot going on!

I think its shows that once there was a thriving and significant Romano-British settlement alongside the lower stretches off the Sherborne Brook.

Andrew Danson hopes to organise some engagement event so that we can learn more detail. If you’d like to see the full report, let me know.

Now, if I may, let me express a personal opinion:

I have not used this medium to express my opinion on the proposed wetland at the top end of the Broadwater for which the NT has applied for planning consent. The reason is that it might be considered me using this substack for my own personal agenda. That would be a conflict with the purpose of the medium and by which I engage with you. I hope you understand and respect that. You can work out my views on the matter elsewhere if you feel you need to.

There has been disquiet in the community, no doubt, about the Broadwater wetland project. But I think it’s REALLY important that we take every attempt to engage with the NT positively on matters wherever we can. In my view (and I don’t think this is a conflict), the banks of the Windrush are an ideal place to create a wetland. The site is not overlooked by the village, and given the poor state of the River Windrush we should support any effort to ameliorate that situation. The discovery of this complex Roman site , I’m guessing, won’t have a negative impact on a wetland creation scheme perhaps a little further north, if designed carefully.

Let’s be clear:

a. This site represents the dwellings and workplaces of our predecessors here in Sherborne, 2000 years ago. It’s a genuinely important discovery and we should have an appetite to hear more and find opportunities for positive engagement. It is our heritage and we should be thrilled by both the archaeology and the wetland opportunity down there.

b. This is an opportunity for us as a community to demonstrate proactively that we respect any attempt to preserve our heritage. We should view this wetland/archaeology project entirely separately from our concerns about the Broadwater wetland. It is possible to have concerns for one project and support another, if we approach both in a mature and sensible way.

c. It’s REALLY important we are not painted as a “difficult” community rejecting everything the NT tries to achieve. Welcoming this project with open arms, engaging positively allows us to establish the ideal paradigm for community/NT relations. It strengthens our position as a community with opinions to be respected.

So please I urge you to express interest and positivity with the NT on this project. It demonstrates that our heritage concerns are rational, and that as a community we will respond well to candid engagement. If you reject the Broadwater plan , and say nothing about this new project down by the Windrush, it sends a message that all we do is complain. Take EVERY opportunity to engage with the NT, express your interest and appetite for learning more.

Thank you.