AGES Archaeological and Historical Association

Spreading the enthusiasm

At the Grand Launch of the Hadleigh & Thundersley Community Archive at Hadleigh Old Fire Station on Saturday the 17th September 2011, the local group displayed some of their finds from digs and searches, much of it rescued from the mud of Canvey Island. They offered their pottery identification skills to anyone who thought to bring along a local find.

Members also embraced the call to historical re-enactment with considerable enthusiasm. Their costumes caused quite a stir on more than one occasion in and around Hadleigh as members joined those of the Hadleigh & Thundersley Archive to distribute leaflets advertising the official opening of the Archive website.

‘Wenches’ and ‘Saxons’ in Morrisons Supermarket, at Iceland’s corner and Hadleigh’s own Cunning Murrell in St James the Less churchyard certainly evoked thoughts of yesteryear in the fast developing, soon-to-be-Olympic host town.

AGES exhibits from around the area
Tessa Hallmann
In the centre of the hall: AGES members with the man from the Echo
Tessa Hallmann
Clay pipes from a time when smoking was still p.c.
Tessa Hallmann
Explaining the finds
Tessa Hallmann
A surviving wife of Henry VIII? Barbara Sayer and Terry Barclay
Tessa Hallmann
Peter Smith as a Saxon warlord, complete with helmet, shield, sword, 'seax' (not in view, but made by him). About his neck Thor's hammer is his good luck charm, as worn by followers of the God of Thunder.
Tessa Hallmann
"I'm a Saxon and I hate Romans... and Normans..." Mick Ryan was a more down-to-earth Saxon, wild and with streaks of the Viking in him. Children loved his colourful stories of 'derring-do', but the Ladies, of whatever period of history, fared somewhat more favourably when he suggested with a wink they might want to 'accompany him home', as he 'had a deer on the spit over the fire...' Such offers don't come often these days.
Tessa Hallmann
Me and my prisoner
Tessa Hallmann
Background right: Leighbeth Winter. Foreground: Doreen Hammerton
Tessa Hallmann
Launching Archaeological imaginations in Hadleigh
Tessa Hallmann
A wig, a bow and a welcome cuppa?
Tessa Hallmann

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.