19 February 2010
Roundhouse mud muck-in at Heeley City Farm
Wellington-clad visitors to Heeley City Farm this weekend (Sunday 21 February 2010) can muck-in to help with the final stages of a long-running archaeology project in partnership with the University of Sheffield.
The Iron Age Roundhouse activity day will take place from 11am to 4pm and people will be encouraged to roll-up their sleeves and use a mixture of clay and straw to help finish the walls of the farm´s constructed Iron Age Roundhouse - a very early form of housing in Britain.
The reconstruction of the Iron Age Roundhouse forms part of a partnership with the University of Sheffield´s Department of Archaeology and the University´s Archaeology Society. Academics and students have offered advice throughout the project and will be on hand to give assistance, information and work on the Roundhouse.
Once the walls and roof are finished, the building will be thatched using local reeds and will be used as a classroom for the farm and as a venue for workshops and events.
Building work to construct the roundhouse began last October as part of a Heritage Lottery funded project, "Digging Our Roots", which is designed to encourage young people at Heeley City Farm to explore farming heritage from the past to present day. It is hoped the Iron Age Roundhouse will be completed by the end of March 2010.
For those who do not want to get muddy on Sunday, local storyteller Andy Messer will be on hand to entertain everyone with Celtic tales. There will also be a chance for visitors to get in touch with their arty side and make some Celtic jewellery. In addition, farm goers can try their luck in a design competition, in which the winner will see their Celtic designs decorating the inside of the Roundhouse in the next few weeks.
Sally Rodgers, a graduate of the University of Sheffield, who is a community archaeologist and "Digging Our Roots" Project Officer at Heeley City Farm, said: "We are very excited about this fantastic opportunity to build the first Roundhouse in Sheffield since the Iron Age. This open day will give everyone a chance to get involved with the construction process. There will be lots going on and we will be finishing daubing, which is building the walls up with a mixture of clay and straw, so visitors should bring wellies as it will be muddy."
Dr Roger Doonan, a lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Sheffield, said: "We are at the most exciting stage of the Roundhouse now with the final covering of the walls going on and the roof starting to take shape. Anytime now we should have a fully functional space which was much like the houses people from times past lived in.
"It's a great opportunity for all ages to come and get involved in the construction. Soon we will be hosting events in the house ranging from story-telling to craft activities. Those who have helped in the building of the house these future events should be even more special."
The event is free of charge and there is no need to book, although it will inevitably be muddy so visitors should wear appropriate clothing and footwear. The farm café and Energy Centre will be open, and farm staff and volunteers will be happy to show children the animals and give tours of the site. Notes for Editors: Heeley City Farm is a community charity based on a working farm and visitor centre one mile from Sheffield City Centre. Staff and volunteers from Heeley City Farm work with local communities around Sheffield to promote sustainability, regeneration, environmental education and health and well being. Horticulture trainees, staff and volunteers also manage organic vegetable gardens at Meersbrook Park, Wortley Walled Gardens and Firth Park allotments. The farm was founded by local people in 1981 and has been growing organically ever since.
For further information about the project, contact Sally Rodgers, Digging Our Roots Project Officer, Heeley City Farm, Richards Road, Sheffield, S2 3DT. Tel:0114 303 9981 ext 4. Mobile: 07932867750 (24 hours) or email youngroots@heeleyfarm.org.uk.
For further information please contact: Shemina Davis, Media Relations Officer, on 0114 2225339 or email shemina.davis@sheffield.ac.uk
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