HISTORY: Archaeological dig at Parham House

During this Bank Holiday weekend, Sunday May 30 and Monday 31, the society is returning to Parham House and Park in the hope of revealing more finds and learning how the estate came about.

This is the fifth successive year of excavations by the society and follows the discovery of the parsonage’s first structure.

A series of ‘post-pads’, probably marking the location of a stable or barn, were found in 2010, and this area will be investigated further as the hunt to find the house reported to have had 10 rooms and a cellar continues.

The main focus this year will be on the deep feature found in May 2010, with questions surrounding whether it is a cellar or a medieval cesspit.

During the weekend the living history group, Pelican-in-her-Piety, will be performing in the pleasure grounds next to the walled garden.

The group re-creates late medieval living history and will create and maintain an encampment that conveys to visitors a vivid impression of life in 15th century England.

Visitors will be able to see how the archaeologists’ finds were actually used in those days, discover what everyday medieval clothes were like, and can also visit a medieval kitchen to discover their foods and recipes.

They will also be able to listen to the archer’s tales of hunting and battles, feel the weight of a sword and even try on some armour.

This weekend is also an opportunity for visitors to see archaeologists at work, and in addition the Worthing Archaeology Society will be displaying artifacts previously recovered from the Estate.

The event is open from 12pm-5pm daily and the house is open from 2pm.