Baylis collection to hold an exhibition at Daventry Museum March 2025

From March next year part of the societies collection will be on display for the public to view at Daventry Museum. These items include any fine Roman artifacts, but also a display of Indus Valley artefacts - a very unusual and interesting collection to find in a provincial town museum! Both Lee and Julian will be presenting a talk at the museum - dates and times to follow.

SWAS Founder Lee Baylis featured in British Archaeology Magazine

f you subscribe or buy British Archaeology Magazine, you may have noticed that issue 198 (August 9th 2024) featured an interesting image of a Roman corndryer as a full-page display in the inside front cover. This was all ‘our’ Lee’s work, and it was terrific to see his brilliant work uncovering this fabulous excavation was honoured in this way. The Photo was tagged: ‘First Sight – Late Romano British corndryer found on a commercial excavation in Warwickshire near the Fosse Way. 3D model created by Lee Baylis using Metascan on an iPhone.’

Holbeche House Rescue Mission 14/01/2025

Lee and Julian visited Holbeche House during December. This building, built in 1600 is currently for sale, having been empty (and on the in-danger list) since the old folks’ home that was based there closed three years ago. Holbeche is of national importance, being a direct link to The Midlands and the Gunpowder Plotters, and was the place the ‘gang’ – not including Guy Fawks - were caught by the sheriff of Worcestershire. The leader of the plotters, Robert Catesby, was shot dead in the doorway of Holbeche, but even though this direct connection with such an important part of British history took place there, Holbeche has never been thought of as being of historical importance.

Kents Moat Birmingham Site Visit

n mid-January (this Thursday in fact) we’re visiting an important archaeological site in Kings Norton, in the south of Birmingham, having been contacted directly by the MP’s office for that area. This may well turn into our first excavation. We hope this will involve all members that would like to take part. If all goes well on Thursday, we’ll be arranging to begin investigations into the location in Springtime. We’ll begin with geo-phys, (along with some training for members that would like to learn that particular technique) and then hopefully dig several excavation trenches, again with training from our own Lee into the methods of ditch/trench excavation. All of this can be considered either training for members that would like to learn the ropes, or further field archaeology experience for those that already have the know-how. We’ll keep you informed about the situation.

Kents Moat Birmingham 21/01/2025

Lee and Julian recently went on a site visit with Jake Fox Assistant to the local MP to investigate land by the kents moat recreation ground. Upon inspection the conditions were poor and after research there had been a factory in the land between 1990 - 2019 meaning the land has been heavily disturbed, soon it will be redeveloped into housing/industry. Down the road is Kents Moat a 12th century fortified house that stood for 300 years until it went to ruin, our aim is to raise funds to install a information boar by the entrance to educate school children and adults about their local history.

Light of Leamington Event

We have been invited to attend the ‘Lights of Leamington’ screening and exhibition event at the All Saints Church in Leamington Spa. Free of charge for our society, a 30 minute film and an exhibition tour with free refreshments on the 8th of February at 11am, We need an rsvp of who can attend by the 1st of February, if youre interested please email us so we can make a list.