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PLYMPTON WELCOMES'THE TIME TEAM' |
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PLYMPTON WELCOMES'THE TIME TEAM' |
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Plympton St. Maurice (courtesy of the Western Morning News) |
During three days in April 1998, Channel 4 TV's the 'TIME TEAM'
descended on the quiet Devon town of Plympton St.Maurice, six miles east of Plymouth. In
just three days, the TIME TEAM helped re-write the history of Plympton St. Maurice!
This web site is a lighthearted, behind the scenes, photo-scrapbook of three days filming. We had great fun with the TIME TEAM and were amazed and delighted by what they discovered. The programme was broadcast in January 1999. Also, view the 'finds' discovered during the three days.
We'd love to know what you think of our pictures and the finds - or if you would like to learn more about Plympton, the Pathfields, or the making of the programme and how the TIME TEAM came to our area. E.mail us at pathfields@hotmail.com.
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It's Day 1 and the surveying team is up bright and early mapping out the land north of the castle. All the information is transferred onto computer later in the day for analysis. The geophys. team are poised ready to search for hidden clues to the lands past use and hope to reveal a rich history. |
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Excitement mounts along Plympton St. Maurice's main thoroughfare. Houses on medieval Fore Street are explored for archaeological evidence. Local resident Aidan Cooper with his son Fergus are on the doorstep with Plymouth City archaeologist Dr. Keith Ray, who is in for a busy three days. Even Charmian Evans' dog Tinkerbell with her boy Tom is in on it! |
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Resembling the 'Hair Bear Bunch' in full flight, landscape archaeologist and team leader Mick Aston together with TIME TEAM presenter Tony Robinson and film crew in tow, are on the scent of Plympton's ancient history. Down lanes, through gardens, over 'Bernards' (TIME TEAM speak for hedges), the hunt is on for clues as the pieces for this archaeological jigsaw are tracked down. |
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It's a doorstep challenge with a difference- it comes with a giant hydraulic lift ! Optimistically clutching the days filming schedule, assistant producer and ace researcher Ella Galinski attempts to muster the TIME TEAM for the next foray into Plympton's past. Meanwhile, archaeologist Carenza Lewis and historic buildings expert Beric Morley are talking dendrochronology - wood dating to you and I! |
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TIME TEAM's answer to Clint Eastwood's High Plains Drifter - or is it Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones, top field archaeologist big Phil Harding strolls into town. He's on a mission and he's brought his trowel (and his famous tool box)! Already, a band of seasoned 'diggers' are limbering up in the wings awaiting the call to "dig in" - they won't be disappointed. |
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Out on the Pathfields, formerly known as the Castle Hayes, surveyor and archaeological investigator Stewart Ainsworth is already on the case explaining his early observations to local resident and keen Pathfields historian Aidan Cooper. Things are not quite what they seem and Stewart is already forming a new picture of medieval Plympton. Talk is of a helicopter survey of the town if the fine weather holds out. |
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In the 'Incident Room', set up at the old Guildhall on Fore Street, super talented artist and illustrator Victor Ambrus grabs a quick snack while whiz graphics duo Sue Francis and Steve Breeze set to work interpreting his sketches on the computer. Victor has already been out getting a feel for the town and drawing some of the building facades on Fore Street. |
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Activity continues with Beric, Mick and historian archivist Robin Bush in deep discussion over the progress being made. Robin describes the importance of Plympton as an ancient 'Stannery' tin town and has unearthed some vital clues in old maps and documents. TIME TEAM's dynamic director Brendan Hughes hovers in the background eager to set up the next filming sequence. |
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All armies march on their stomachs and the TIME TEAM are no exception! A mountain of 'doorstep thick' sandwiches are procured by mobile caterers in a seeming never ending flow. Light relief comes in the afternoons by the appearance of sticky buns, cream cakes and sweets for the weary troops. Mick Aston always seems to be first in the queue! |
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On the fields above the castle, Tony takes a moment to explain the TIME TEAM's cunning plan (sorry Tony) to inquisitive local children. Education and enthusiasm are part of the TIME TEAM's great appeal and Tony has no shortage of eager listeners ready to learn about their local ancestors way of life. |
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Information about all the places of interest are assembled on Sue's computer back at the Incident Room. Carenza is going over some of the details she has collected during the day. |
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It's only Day 1 and Tony looks exhausted! In between 'takes' he finds time to embark on 'Suntan 98' while the rest of Britain freezes and floods. As supremo director Brendan Hughes cries, "That was excellent Tony, but can we just do it again", Tony collapses on the ground muttering, "This really does yer 'ed in..." as he composes himself for 'take six'. What a pro. |
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By the following morning things are really moving. Beric and Stewart return from tramping the surrounding fields and streets of Plympton to pour over historic maps of the Pathfields and ancient field systems. Stewart thinks he's onto something which could reveal a bloody and violent past but there's still a lot more work to do. Stewart says he needs to visit some local nuns (!?). |
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With the maestro at the keyboard, Steve Breeze starts piecing together the evidence unearthed so far. |
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It's trench time on the Pathfields as (nearly 'Dr.') Jenni Butterworth stands shovel at the ready while Ian Powesland wields the mini digger with the precision of a neuro-surgeon. This should sort out the lands previous usage. The Pathfields' hedges and boundaries could have a hidden tale to tell of a much grander past. |
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Close to the castle, under the shelter of the stone colonnades at the old Plympton Grammar School, where the famous English painter Sir Joshua Reynolds was a former pupil, oak is being skillfully transformed by axe into something essential to all large medieval dwellings. This is fundamental carpentry with craftsmen demonstrating a real understanding for tools and material. A common sight in Norman times. |
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"Oh what!" Phil's a happy man according to TIME TEAM producer Tim Taylor, but what has he found? It could be something a bit special and rather delicate - we'll have to wait and see. |
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Sue is keen to show how the history is shaping up on the computer. Using a special camera linked to her screen she can overlay maps of the area from different periods of Plympton's past. The results prove to be very revealing. |
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This looks interesting! stalwart TIME TEAM researcher David Coward takes a hand (or was it a claw hammer) revealing a long lost secret, deep underground. The results astonished local residents and TIME TEAMers alike. This could be a real breakthrough. |
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All this archeology is fascinating stuff, but there is still a programme to be made and by Day 3 time is getting short. Brendan discusses the next scene with Carenza. Multi-talented TIME TEAM 'Runner' Jonty Sales, the 'Kango Kid', dons a hard hat for the occasion - he'll need it. It's a long day for Brendan - up to eighteen hours counting the planning for todays filming. Brendan is in continual radio contact with Ella and all the filming locations and has to be aware of the tight schedule. |
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At last! Tony finds the ideal vehicle for negotiating those muddy TIME TEAM locations - albeit a little undersized and a tad underpowered. But he's having fun so never mind. It really must be a 'wonderful life'. |
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The race is on to pull the historical evidence together and further along the road we find Mick the Dig ...er digging! |
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Back at the Incident Room 'cheeky' Steve Breeze lets local children Robyn and Holly Owen try their hand at drawing on the computer. Steve and Sue are missing baby Millie who is nearly one year old now and staying with Sue's mum for a few days. Millie's photo has pride of place on top of Sue's monitor and Robyn drew a special picture for Sue to take back for her. Victor says she shows 'artistic promise' - praise indeed! |
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A lull in the excitement while tea, sandwiches and sticky buns are summoned, finds Carenza and Mick in a contemplative mood. The south facing gardens along Fore Street offer a tranquil sheltered sun trap - quite different weather to that experienced by the rest of Britain following the cold and wet Easter weekend. |
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Charmian and Paul Evans listen intently to Robin as he recounts the long-hidden and rich history of Plympton. The picture he paints of intrigue, power struggles, privilege, prosperity and the everyday hardships endured by ordinary folk reflect the turbulent times of medieval Britain. An enchanting story unfolds which astounds and delights everyone. |
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Will Plympton St. Maurice ever be the same again? We hope not, as the TIME TEAM uncovered a new and fascinating history of our town. We always thought Plympton St. Maurice was special, now we appreciate our local environment even more. Big thanks must go to producer Tim Taylor, director Brendan Hughes and assistant producer Ella Galinski who worked so hard to make it all possible. The energy and enthusiasm of Tony Robinson and all the other members of the TIME TEAM was a joy to behold and a pleasure to be a part of - an unforgettable three days of discovery! |
Why not visit the Channel 4 TV's TIME TEAM web site. It's packed with information, biographies with audio, animated reconstructions, an A to Z of archaeology, frequently asked questions and a live chat link with other TIME TEAM devotees. Also pay a visit to TIME TEAM Forum Friends, an excellent, informative and fun web site created by keen TIME TEAM watchers. ...and if you would like to find out more about archaeology, visit The Council for British Archaeology web site, or for lots of information, an impressive search engine and links to archaeology worldwide, visit Arch Net. For more information on Plympton St. Maurice visit the Pathfields web site.
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LOOK AT THE FINDS