OUR AIMS & OBJECTIVES
From the 1997 Constitution
The object of the Association is the advancement of education and conservation by promoting, undertaking and making public historical research and archaeological investigation into the landscape of the Parish of Sedgeford in the county of Norfolk and of adjoining and neighbouring Parishes (hereinafter together referred to as "the Research Area"). The results of the work will be disseminated by publications, exhibitions, public lectures and other means
- This annual report represents a short year from 1st March 2024 30th September 2024. This will allow us to reconfigure our financial year so we have a better idea of each season rather than covering most of one season and half of the next.
With the court case now concluded, SHARP is able to move on with new courses, new trustees and committee members and a new horizon in the form of the Farming in Protected Landscapes funding application which will allow us to develop and improve the site making things easier for site and set up team and allowing us to keep our prices affordable.
Annual Report
- 1st March 30th September
We were visited by Ed & Grace from FiPL who encouraged us to apply for the three main things we needed, toilets, showers and power in the form of solar array and this is what we put in for. Watch this space in 2025!
2024
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The 2024 Archaeological Season
This year was particularly affected by the financial fraud case that was ongoing up to and throughout the season. On the run up to the season work was being undertaken to improved the financial systems in place. At the same time we carried out consultation with the membership on the constitution, as well as providing more open access and transparency of our policies and governance.
The summer season was very successful, with more bookings than the previous year and the development of more courses and activities. There were several visits from school and homeschool groups, with the addition of a new activity trail and a session on human remains as well as usual digging, finds cleaning, environmental and ancient craft sessions. The site directors were kept busy with the various tours and visits, including the annual Friends visit and North West Norfolk History Society. We had four fantastic lectures during the season.
[the carpark trench the discovery of a medieval trackway meant ] - we could not reach the Anglo Saxon archaeology we were expecting. However at the Northern end of the trench in the final days we discovered a skull, from what we assume is a prehistoric crouch burial.
Off trench work started on the paper archive with the help of a grant from the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society.
During the season there was also a consultation process with volunteers and the public on our plans for a more sustainable project.
From the outgoing Chair Gareth at the 2024 AGM:
“I would like to highlight the following achievements this year ;”
On site work continues on the malting site, with two more kilns being actively excavated. There was also a large focus on recording features that are starting to degrade. At the top of the hill we discovered a new East – West ditch that explained why the archaeology to the South of the trench is so complex. On
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Much needed work on constitution,
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Updating governance and financial systems,
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As well as the archaeology we have also kept a pace with our specialist work, environmental processing.
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Developed some new courses
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Successful open day, 250 visitors, £1200 money raised.
Some of the lovely comments from those taking part during the 2024 season:
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Ellie in tours and visits, Friends of SHARP and NWNHS.
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Four great lectures, including last nights where Sophie Cabot stepped in last minute.
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Working towards sustainability grant, to get our own solar etc.
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Post-excavation backlog has been worked on, including the Roman project.
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Archive has been worked on at the moment, with the help of a grant NNAS
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Vastly improved site infrastructure.
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Merchandise improvements, including our own newsletter.
“Just wanted to thank you and the SHARP team for another great SHARP couple of weeks with the HR Team. As ever, I learnt a lot, met old and new friends, and had fun. Looking forward to 2025. Hope to be able to do two weeks with HR Team again.”
“There was nothing that I didn’t enjoy, even when rain stopped us digging there were interesting jobs to do.”
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“I have learnt a lot, especially considering I knew nothing about archaeology before taking the BERT course. The supervisors were helpful and patient.”
“Hugely enjoyable and helped by the supervisor sharing knowledge and stories and even more so enthusiasm”
“ I love the friendly atmosphere and that people new to archaeology are made to feel accepted and inclusive. I enjoyed working on trench 25 and hope to carry on next year.
“The whole week was thoroughly enjoyable and I will definitely come again”
“It was a very interesting dig and I enjoyed the week, both socially and archaeologically. It was fun and nice to meet new people and also good for me to experience a different type of excavation to what I have been used to. I admire the dedication of the team!”
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Lots of new courses are now available including archiving, photogrammetry and experimental, with more coming for 2025
SHARP wouldn't exist without the huge amount of volunteer time spent behind the scenes before, during and after the season. A huge thank you to all those people who make it possible.
TRUSTEES
The archive team getting to grips with decades of records
The experimental tent
Yvonne Bolton-Smith; - Chair from 31/07/24 - Eleanor Blakelock; Secretary from 12/10/23 Sam Atkins; Treasurer Pete Taylor; 31/07/24 Lucy Koster; 31/07/24 Eleanor Lees; 31/07/24 Gareth Davies; Outgoing Chair Terry Baxter Dan Cockling : a ¥ Tiggy Harris qi | pal ' Steve Horn = * "s t Owen Morgan
Committee Members from 31/7/24
Ann Smith Sophie Beckett Bill Howard Kali Graham
And as always a very special thanks to all the fantastic team of volunteers who helped support the season, their hard work makes the whole project possible.
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FUNDING & FINANCE I (HARITY COMMISSION 01 EN(UND ANO Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Fovth pwiod frnm To is IHARITY COMMIS510N FOR ENGIAND ANO WAIES Receipls and payments a¢¢ounts CC164 L¥ 3.JZI frorn To Soction A R•cai tsand a mènts fuod• R••irf¢i•dlund• T•Wluftd• ty•w A1 R•¢•l BERTc•Iltt 7•7 rAili Th• d EA ¥hM V GMI riffll FLF ¥.iJ Trt•lp•yrn•nts Gh)I Vrknlmr VrknlMTOnth N•tolrnc•Wp•yrn•Msi ASTrnthThb•lwwn lund• 4•7 41T KL 13.40S Ph CA1 Sttbl4x•I(Gmss Incomfr foiAR) A2 A•wt •nd lTrv••irn•ni •••. (••• 33.5Ql 33.501 li 12
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