The Unwritten History Survey
Embedded Files
A Community Heritage Project
Rescuing the Unwritten History of our Villages and Surrounding Land
History isn't just in books; it awaits discovery right under our feet. It is easy to forget that the ground we walk every day, whether a village garden, a paddock, or an open agricultural field, holds a hidden layer of human history, memories, and unrecorded events.
Our goal is to discover and map physical proof of earlier generations. The everyday items they lost hold the real stories of the people who lived, worked, and shaped our local landscape.
Documenting over 2,000 years of daily life through mapped local finds
A 6th-century Anglo-Saxon gold clasp Officially recognized as a find of significant regional importance and acquired by the Newark Museum.
A Tudor gilt-filigree dress-pin head. Acquired by the Newark Museum under the Treasure Act.
While unearthing rare pieces of official 'Treasure' is always exciting, history doesn't need to be ancient or valuable to be meaningful. Whether it’s a humble lead token, a Victorian coin, or a Georgian shoe buckle, every single find is a genuine piece of our local past.
A selection of our local finds from Roman through to Modern.
15 Years of Local Fieldwork
Although this project has been running for 15 years, we are now going digital to bring our local history online.
This 100% free, self-funded project continues to expand across the Trent Valley corridor with the active collaboration of local parish councils, history societies, and—most importantly—our local landowners. Our work simply isn't possible without those who grant us access to explore their fields, paddocks, and gardens.
Together, we are building a lasting, free digital archive for our villages—operating with complete transparency, high professional standards, and total respect for the land.
Discover the Story Beneath Your Feet
Discover the Story Beneath Your Feet
Whether you own hundreds of acres, a horse paddock, or an older village garden, you hold a piece of the local puzzle, and we would love to help you discover its past.
If you are curious about what history might be hidden beneath the surface of your land then please contact us to express your interest. We can arrange a friendly, no-obligation chat and, if you're happy, start exploring your land whenever suits you.
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