Middleton Park Archaeological Survey will be holding an open day on Sunday
July 15th between 10am to 4pm at the Lakeside Centre, Middleton Park, South
Leeds. Coinciding with National Archaeology Week this event is being
supported by Celebrate Leeds 2007; a year long festival marking 800 years
since the foundation of the borough of Leeds.
The park was once part of the Middleton estate of the Brandling family who
developed the Middleton Colliery and its famous railway. A community
archaeology project funded by a Your Heritage Grant began recording the
archaeology of the park over the winter of 2006-2007. The survey is
revealing the early history of coal mining in south Leeds. Over 270 shafts
exist in the park and research is showing that mining was well advanced by
the 1630s.
The archaeology of the park is not all mining and a bank and ditch marking
the boundary between the townships of Middleton and Beeston built in 1206
has been recorded along with other earthworks suggesting medieval woodland
management. In the 18th century part of the pre domesday manorial woodland
was cleared to create a park for Middleton Lodge built in the 1760s by
Charles Brandling.
This free event includes an exhibition and guided walks around the park.
Martin Roe
Meerstone Archaeological Consultancy
http://www.martinroe.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/meerstone.htm
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