4 AUTUMN I S SUE | OCTOBER 2 0 2 3 Shapwick History Group JOHN ANDERSON There was also plenty of tangential information along the way – I was particularly impressed to learn that giant hippos - see the hippo tooth on the right - once roamed free across Somerset. The value of the finds was obvious in most cases, such as the Shapwick Hoard Roman coin collection. The significance of others benefited from further explanation, for example the humble pint-sized wooden axe found near the Sweet Track, thought to be a child’s toy from 3,800 BC. There was much craftsmanship and beauty on display too: the Bronze Age Yeovil Torc, Iron Age glass beads from Meare, intricate Roman scale armour, the Alfred Jewel. We also learned about the technological advances used to unlock further secrets, enabling the identification of food and drink once held in archaeological pottery, and DNA analysis of ancient skeletons. Many of the featured treasures, including the Shapwick Hoard, can be seen at the Museum of Somerset – the group is planning a visit, so feel free to get in touch at history@shapwick.org or find us on Facebook if you’d like to find out more about this or other future activities. All welcome! Three forthcoming events (all free; a small donation appreciated): Tuesday 10 Oct, meet at the church for 7pm start A Brief History of St.Mary's Church, Shapwick We're delighted that Chris Hargreaves has volunteered to throw some light on the origins and workings of St.Mary's. Chris is a fount of local knowledge, and we suspect he'll reveal more fascinating village history along the way! Thursday 9 November, 7pm, Village Hall Cold War Worriers. How my Uncle Gave Peace to the World… Anthony Lipmann examines the ways in which ordinary individuals expressed themselves in the 1950s in the face of the fear of nuclear war, and how that generation gave birth to the most iconic non-religious symbol in the world. Tuesday 5 December, 7pm,Village Hall 50 Peculiar Historical Artefacts - An interactive quiz with Anne Murch Join us for a festive tipple as we attempt to identify objects from Anne's collection of unusual gizmos and gadgets from times past - a fun and informative evening! Shapwick Starlets WI SUE SELLICK As a volunteer at Secret World Wildlife Rescue in East Huntspill, I know that in 2022, the most seen species was hedgehogs with 667 admissions. So I thought it would be a fun thing to make our own hedgehog houses! And it certainly was! George, the Learning and Education Officer for Secret World gave us a very informative talk, in the Bluebell Barn, on hedgehogs, including the rescue, care and rehabilitation of hedgehogs. He also explained how the charity receives no government funding, so is reliant on the generosity of the public and local businesses. We were provided with packs of pre-cut and shaped wood, screws and screwdrivers with clear instructions and all seven of us did indeed end up with beautifully crafted houses ready to take home! It was a very productive two We also have two special events coming up! Contact us via Shapwick Starlets Facebook page or email shapwickwi@yahoo.com hours, a lot of fun, with all of us being hopeful that we would get resident hogs in their purpose built accommodation. With this hot weather we have been experiencing, it is vital that there is fresh drinking water for any hogs in your garden, and when the ground is very dry, there might be a lack of insects, so you can put out meaty dog or cat food. million years in under an hour, exploring our ancestors’ lives and cultures via key historical artefacts. Many of these were discovered on our own doorstep. The group, and friends, gathered at Shapwick Village Hall for a one-off time travelling tour led by Amal Khreisheh, the Curator of Archaeology at South West Heritage Trust. Amal’s ‘Treasures of Somerset’ talk managed to cover some 400 Thursday 12th October in the Village Hall: an evening with Chris Sperring MBE and Alex Learmont from the Hawk and Owl Trust Free but we suggest a donation of £5 p.p. for the Hawk and. Owl Trust at Shapwick Moor please. We will be providing refreshments and as we are hoping there will be lots of interest, please message us to confirm attendance. Christmas Fair!!! Shapwick Village Hall, Saturday 9th December 2.00pm - 4.00pm - to book a table, please email shapwickwi@yahoo.com
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