How people used to live in the Peak District

Butter making, spinning, weaving, and making traditional reed lights – are just some of the living history experiences on offer at an Open Day at the Dove Valley Centre, near Longnor, in the heart of the Peak District National Park.

Everyone is welcome, free of charge,  at the ‘Peeling Back the Layers’ event on Sunday 16 July, 11am to 4pm.

People will be able to explore the exhibition of finds, surveys and documents, try their hand at rural crafts that date back several centuries, learn a Tudor dance and eat traditional potage too.
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‘Teapot and Trowels’ sessions will give people an opportunity to have a chat and a cup of tea with the professional archaeologists and historian who advised the volunteers running the project.

National park ranger, Lynn Burrow, said: “The Open Day has something for everyone to enjoy, from dressing up as a Tudor farmer, to studying ancient documents or learning to write with a quill. Youngsters can take part in archaeological activities, help create a museum of finds or get involved in living history activities.”

The Open Day marks the end of the two-year community and educational archaeology project which has revealed a fascinating insight into rural farming life over the centuries.

Project manager, Dr Catherine Parker Heath, said, “This project has been an incredible community effort involving 70 local volunteers and 200 school children in peeling back the layers of history at Under Whitle to discover what life was like in the Upper Dove Valley in the past, especially in Tudor times.”

People will be able to discover the project’s excavated archaeology on guided tours with site director, Dr Ian Parker Heath.

There’s also chance to see the extraordinary LiDar image of the parish of Sheen which used the latest archaeological survey technique to strip away vegetation and reveal the hidden archaeology of the surrounding area. Not to mention the full survey of Sheen Churchyard, carried out by the somewhat dubiously named volunteers, the Graveyard Gang!

The event is located at the Dove Valley Centre (satnav code SK17 0PR). Full details are at www.peelingbackthelayers.org .