Past Investigations
Investigation Invitation
If you have a mystery or field that you would like us to investigate please contact us: fielddetectives@talktalk.net
Long Clawson, Leicestershire
The Mill Farm Historic Landscape Study - 2017-2024
On Thursday 6th June 2024, The Field Detectives concluded the Mill Farm Historic Landscape Study with a cake-topped presentation to Anthony and Caroline Thomas. The study took seven years to complete and you can read all about it here.
At the heart of the study was the Shilcock Family, who lived and worked at the mill from the early 19th century to the 1960s.
Their story can be found here
What started out as landscape investigation, evolved into a special relationship that can be described as a real treasure of amazing memories. If you would like to view The Mill Farm Historic Landscape Study Appendices, please contact The Field Detectives at fielddetectives@talktalk.net or via our contact page to register your interest and we will send the reports via WeTransfer.
The Owl's Nest
Keyworth, Nottinghamshire 1999-2013
In 1999 we were invited by the landowner of Wheatcroft Farm, to investigate one of their fields (Owl's Nest) which was reputedly the site of an old farm building or cottage of which no obvious trace remained.
The surprise of the investigation was the abundance of Romano-British findings very close to the Bunny/Keywoth parish boundary, indicating that there was considerable activity in the fields between Keyworth and Bunny throughout the Romano-British era. The finding of two Corieltauvi gold staters, a Corieltauvi silver unit, and a Celtic belt slider suggests activity before Roman times.
A field survey report was produced detailing our findings.
Lings Lane
Keyworth, Nottinghamshire 2002-2003
In May 2002, we were asked by the Keyworth & District Local History Society, to carry out a couple of field surveys on pasture land just off Lings Lane, Keyworth, in an attempt to throw light on the suggestion that Keyworth village once extended down towards a field named, Motley Close.
Two field survey reports were produced detailing our findings
Bunny Park Grounds 2015-2018
In May 2015, the University of Nottingham very kindly offered us the opportunity to extend our field surveys into the Bunny Park grounds (the former home of the Parkyns family) and this preliminary report is a detailed record of our initial survey of the said grounds.
In August 2018, the Field Detectives resumed their investigation of the historic landscape we now know as the Bunny Hall Park Grounds. The initial survey assessment confirmed human activity across the Romano-British, Anglo-Saxon/Scandinavian & Medieval periods, along with an emerging English Civil War story relating to the house arrest of Colonel Isham Parkyns.
There is also a sad truth that needs to be told, one that hinges on the selfish search for treasure and the theft of historically important artefacts that will, in all probability, never be recovered. Eleven years of illegal nighthawking presented the Field Detectives with their toughest challenge to date; ‘could we deduce what the nighthawks took away from what they left behind?’ Our strategy was to systematically survey each field as a set of individual investigations and bring together a volume of evidence that we will interrogate in partnership with our heritage colleagues.
Unfortunately, due to the current and future concerns in respect of the security arrangements for the grounds, and after lengthy discussion and reflection, we have decided to end the investigation.
Goadby Marwood, Leicestershire, and the
Eli Coy Collection 2017-2021
In an effort to gain further understanding of the extent and nature of the Roman settlement at Goadby Marwood, the Field Detectives were invited by the landowner to carry out a historic landscape investigation on the grounds of Goadby Marwood Hall in 2017.
It would appear, with a few notable exceptions, the artefacts found during our visits to the Goadby Marwood Hall originated from the wealth of material being either lost, dropped, or possibly even deliberately deposited in the watercourse that formed the basis of the current lakes and ponds, hidden from view or detection for nearly 2000 years.
A copy of the report can be downloaded here
The Eli Coy Collection tells an important part of that story.
A free download of the Ely Coy collection report is available here
Harby, Leicestershire
A broader aspect of the study is to investigate the hypothetical existence of a trackway that ran from the ironworking Romano-British settlement at Goadby Marwood to Margidunum, which was situated near modern-day Bingham, on the Fosse Way (A46).
Another interesting feature of the study involves the route of the Grantham Canal. During the mid to late 19th century, there was an increase in the amount of night soil arriving onto the land that ran adjacent to the canal's route, courtesy of the Nottingham privies.
Click here for more on the Night Soil Men.
Witch Bottle Analysis
Catherine and fellow Field Detective, Steve, have been working with Dr Alan Massey who is publishing a book about his life's work on the scientific study of witch bottles and their contents. Alan has scientifically analysed the urine, hair, fingernails, pins and other intriguing objects placed in bottles and hidden, usually under fireplaces, during the 17th and early 18th centuries. These bottles were carefully put together by believers that a witch had cast a spell on a loved one to make them ill and that the witch must be 'killed' to break the spell and cure the sick victim.
Many of these 'witch bottles' are discovered during renovations of old buildings and provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of our superstitious ancestors.
The book is to be published later this year by Brian Hoggard
