FRESHFORD & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

The History Society meets on the third thursday of most months at the Memorial Hall, Freshford at 7.30 pm. Contact :Alan Dodge, Chairman (722339) Over 70 members and friends attended a superbly illustrated lecture by Roy Canham, the Wiltshire County Archaeologist, on January 23rd on Ancient Field Systems of Wiltshire. Wiltshire is well known for its outstanding archaeological sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury , but less obvious features are to be found in the relatively undisturbed military areas of Salisbury Plain. Close examination of aerial photographs coupled with ground surveys have shown detailed field systems from the Bronze Age. These show quite clearly evidence of an organised agricultural system around 3000 years ago. The Speaker also gave evidence of a well developed three field system from prehistoric rather than mediaeval times, and mentioned that one of the major attractions of Britain to the Romans was its grain production. We in fact exported grain to the continent before the arrival of the Romans! Altogether a stimulating and illuminating lecture. Alan Dodge