News

Latest news from ArcHeritage

• Staveley 3D Photgrammetry

  Download video: MP4 format | WMV format

  This short video demonstrates how we used photogrammetry to accurately map and mesh a trench from the recent excavations at Stavelely. Using only digital photos we were able to model the sections, cobbled surfaces, and trench edges. This has huge potential for the modelling of historic sites and landscapes.

• Celebrations at the Shepherd Wheel in Sheffield

  The huge restoration scheme that has been underway at the Shepherd Wheel in Sheffield is drawing towards a close. ArcHeritage and the York Archaeological Trust were appointed to carry out historic building recording, new research, oral history workshops and to provide a suite of new interpretation materials. A Topping Out ceremony will celebrate the construction of the new interpretation building.

  A public Christmas event will be held at the site between 12pm and 3pm, 17th December. The event is open to all - come to this characterful site and see the water wheel and internal grinding machinery working.

  Events at the Christmas Opening!

  See the Wheel running for the first time in many years

  Watch a knife being shaped on the forge

  Have a go at making a Christmas Wreath

  Enjoy warm mulled wine, mince pies and sweet chestnuts!

• Forgotten Spaces 2011 – RIBA Awards

  ArcHeritage are proud to be associated with the recent RIBA Forgotten Sapces competition, held for the first time in Sheffield. The quality of the entries was excpeptionally high, with some stunning and innovative design ideas put forward. The £5000 First Prize was awarded to Chris Paterson for his project 'Guiding Lights'.

  RIBA in Yorkshire worked in association with Sheffield Hallam University and the programme was sponsored by developers British Land, Creative Sheffield, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and engineers Buro Happold. Media partner on Forgotten Spaces 2011 were The Architects Journal. ArcHeritage sponsored the reception drinks.

  Take a look at the shortlisted entries on the RIBA website here

  Further information about the competition can be found on the Sheffield Hallam University news pages

  

  ArcHeritage Regional Director, Anna Badcock, presents the Highly Commended award to Simon Gedye and Keith Hayman.

• New publication – Monk Bridge Ironworks

  We are delighted to announce the publication of our new monograph - 'Monk Bridge Ironworks'. The volume presents the results of archaeological investigations at the former ironworks in Leeds. It examines aspects of the iron and railway engineering industries throughout a period of rapid national change. The growth, success and changing fortunes of two extraordinary family businesses are charted through original research, building recording and archaeological excavations.

  Hardback, 194pp, 30 line illustrations, 119 colour and b/w plates. ISBN: 978-1-874454-56-4. Price: £20.00 plus p&p

  Please click here to order online. For further details contact ArcHeritage on 0114 2728884.

  

• Roman Archaeology Open Day 23rd July

  As part of the Festival of British Archaeology, ArcHeritage are holding archaeology open day in central Doncaster on Saturday 23rd July. It is free and open to all. Please come and visit, and see some of the latest finds, including a Roman cremation urn, oil lamps and a very beautiful glass jar. Archaeologists from ArcHeritage will provide guided tours and there will be other handling collections and kids' activities. The day is also supported by Doncaster City Council, the South Yorkshire Archaeology Service and Doncaster Tourist Information.

  The site is open from 12pm - 4pm. It is located on Waterdale, opposite the Central Library. Please wear stout shoes, and all children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

  

• Leica HDS Innovation Awards

  We are delighted to announce that our Geomatics and Visualisation specialist, Marcus Abbott, was a finalist in the Leica Geosytems HDS Innovation Awards last week. Marcus was nominated for his recent 3D visualisation work at Staveley Hall, where we are contributing to an HLF-funded community project. Marcus used Leica laser scanning equipment (C10) to capture 3D data of the existing remains of the 17thC Staveley Hall. This was combined with archaeological and documentary evidence and landscape survey to evalbe Marcus to create a 3D digital model of the complete hall is it may have looked when it was built. The model will continue to evolve as new archaeological information is gathered during the project. See 'Staveley Hall' in our project pages for images of the 3D model. 19th July 2011

• Site Assistants required

  ArcHeritage wish to recruit archaeological Site Assistants to cover projects starting July, in the South Yorkshire and Derbyshire area. At least 18 months' experience within commercial archaeology is preferred, as is experience of excavating prehistoric and Roman sites. A current CSCS card is required. IfA membership is preferred.

  The salary will be £15,972-£17,000 comparing to BAJR pay scales G2-3 depending upon experience. Successful applicants will receive short-term contracts (up to 3 months initially) with our normal terms and conditions. Travel from the Sheffield office to site is provided. Financial assistance with accommodation can be arranged for those working away from home.

  Any queries should be directed to Anna Badcock (see 'Contact Us' page).
  Application forms can be downloaded from www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/about/jobs.htm. Please put 'ARCHERITAGE1' in the job reference box. Completed forms should be submitted by 24th June to:
  Karen Bettsworth HR Manager YAT 47 Aldwark York YO1 7BX kbettsworth@yorkat.co.uk 01904 663009

• Launch of 3D visualisation of Sheffield Manor Lodge

  ArcHeritage have produced 3D digital models of Sheffield Manor Lodge for a large archaeological project being conducted by the University of Sheffield. The project is being funded by the Higher Education Innovation fund. A new interactive website has just been launched, designed and hosted by the Humanities Reasrch Institute at the University of Sheffield. The digital models produced by ArcHeritage have been generated using a variety of sources, including historic texts and images, and archaeological evidence. The website allows users to select 3D models of the manor in Tudor times and the post-medieval period, and to view the site from a numbers of different locations. Hotspots allow the user to examine more detailed evidence about particular features on the site. See our 'Projects' pages for further information and images. Click here to go the the interactive Manor Lodge website.

• Guest speaker at Chamber of Commerce lunch

  Our Operations Manager, David Aspden, will be talking about the impact of PPS5 (planning guidance for the historic environment) to members of the Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce at a Construction Lunch on the 4th February. The lunch will be held at the York Pavilion Hotel at 12pm.

• National Trust/RSPB upland survey

  Survey work is underway on 25 square kilometres of upland of the East Moors in the Peak District National Park. The work is being carried out for the Eastern Moors Partnership (EMP), a new partnership between the National Trust and the RSPB. Several new archaeological sites have already been identified. The survey will enable the EMP to characterise the archaeological resource of the moors, and to design appropriate Higher Level Stewardship agreements for the long-term management of the land.

• Refurbishment of rare 18th century water-powered site is underway

  A major programme of refurbishment at the Shepherd Wheel in Sheffield is now well underway. Working with the Friends of the Porter Valley, Sheffield City Council who own the site have secured lottery funding for the restoration of this rare building which functioned as a grinding workshop for cutlery and edge tools, powered by water from the Porter Brook. Documentary references for the site go back to the mid 16th century, although the current buildings are likely to be 18th-century in date. The project will see the water wheel and grinding machinery brought back into full working order. ArcHeritage and the York Archaeological Trust are undertaking building recording of the site, and an extensive programme of interpretation works to provide on-site information for visitors and schools groups. We are also undertaking an oral history project, to record memories of the site over the last 70 years.

• Dramatic demolition of the Osborn Mushet Tool Works

  In June the former Osborn Mushet Tool Works was demolished in a controlled explosion and the site was cleared to pave the way for a new development. Prior to its demolition, ArcHeritage were commissioned to make a detailed record of this imposing building which had been constructed in 1943 for the manufacture of machine parts. The building style incorporated Art Deco elements, giving the façade a grand symmetry. Evidence for the building’s wartime origins was found within the fabric of the structure which had been built in three separate segments to reduce the impact in the event of bombing. The basement had been used as a bomb shelter, and a lookout post was stationed on the roof. The record made by ArcHeritage will be deposited in Sheffield Archives.

• York’s 800 year old Micklegate Bar opens to the public

  The York Archaeological Trust refurbished Micklegate Bar, and opened it as a museum in Spring 2010. As York's most important gateway, the bar has served a number of important roles since its construction in the 12th century, including being the main point of entry through which a reigning monarch enters the city. The Bar has been altered at various times since it was built; by studying documentary and archaeological evidence, ArcHeritage visualisation specialist Marcus Abbott has created a 3D reconstruction of the Bar in the 18th century.