Background

What history is buried below Ampleforth? Do parts of the medieval village survive? And can we unearth them with the people who live there?

The heritage surrounding Ampleforth village goes back as far as the prehistoric period, with several barrows and burials dating to the Bronze Age. Ancient artefacts and sites have been unearthed over the years, evidencing that the area has been occupied almost continuously from the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age periods, through the Roman occupation and into Medieval times. The origins of Ampleforth itself can be traced back to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. The name “Ampleforth” has Anglo-Saxon roots, derived from the Old English words “ampre” and “ford,” meaning “place by the ford where sorrel grew.”

Recently, in a once-in-a-lifetime find by metal detectorists, a horde of stunning Roman bronzes were discovered nearby to Ampleforth. Could there be more historical treasures waiting to be found?

One of the most notable landmarks in the village is the Ampleforth Abbey, an incredible Benedictine monastery that has stood for over 200 years. The abbey holds a significant place in the village’s history and adds to its cultural charm. DigVentures and the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership along with children from local schools will be digging test pits at the Abbey itself, while residents of Ampleforth dig in their gardens and on other common-land in and around the village.