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Unravelling The Vyne

Another short note, this time on a contemporary art exhibition at one of the National Trust place I work with. I’ve mentioned the Vyne before (in one of my most popular posts). This time, the focus isn’t on Roman rings or Tolkien, but other aspects of the place’s history. Ten artist-makers working in a variety of media have interpreted parts of the Vyne story in especially created works, which are currently on display around the mansion and in its lovely Summer House. Continue reading →

Meet the Team – Kris Strutt

What will you be doing at Basing House? Kris Strutt, working on the EES Theban Harbours and Waterscapes Project – http://eestheban.tumblr.com/ Hopefully some survey, geophysics, and exploring the amazing landscape of the area. What you are hoping to experience at Basing House? A good, strong, eclectic team of people doing what they do best. What’s the unique thing that attracts you to Basing House? The amazing archaeology, and definitely the tea and biscuits. Continue reading →

Meet the Team – Adam Chapman

What will you be doing at Basing House? Adam Chapman Hopefully, what I’ll be doing at Basing is to try and relate some of the historical accounts to what we can see on the ground and to provide some historical context to the archaeology, particularly with regard to the period before the Civil Wars. What you are hoping to experience at Basing House? Er? Rain, cold, sunshine, tea and biscuits. Continue reading →

Meet the Team – Dave Allen

Dave Allen, Keeper of Archaeology Dave’s Biography Dave began his digging career in Wales, working on Iron Age hillforts at the Breiddin and Moel y Gaer, and a range of sites in the BrenigValley.  Forays into England included Gussage All Saints and a season at Hambledon Hill.  He also fitted in four years fieldwork in his native Buckinghamshire. He has been looking after the Hampshire County archaeology collections for more than 30 years. Continue reading →

Meet the Team – Peter Driver

What you are going to be doing at Basing House? Peter, our talented Artist in Residence I will be ‘Artist in Residence’ during the excavation. I am not certain yet about what kind of work I will make in response to the project. I imagine it will involve a lot of drawing, possibly making woodcut prints and generating a set of ‘zines’ reflecting the activities and progress of the project. Continue reading →

Meet the Team – Jude Jones

What will you be doing at Basing House? Jude, with a hungry hawk, in Hungary! I’ll be managing finds and training students in finds processing. I also hope to be able to assist Gareth in archive digitisation. What you are hoping to experience at Basing House? I specialise in early modern archaeology and have done various analyses of local Tudor, Stuart and Georgian gentry houses, although my most recent work has been on post-medieval parish churches. Continue reading →

A very short note on the power of music

This really is a very quick note. I was mowing the lawn this morning, with my phone playing music on shuffle. During a quiet respite while I emptied the grass hopper, Dead Man’s Gun, the elegiac final song from Red Dead Redemption came on. I suddenly felt a sense of loss, and bitterness, and tears came to my eyes. An incredible feeling of nostalgia washed over me, and I wanted to visit again the virtual world of RDR’s west. Now, THAT’S what I call emotional engagement. Continue reading →