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Between 26th February  and  2nd March we will be excavating archaeological test pits in Manor Gardens and in the Parsonage of St Mary’s Old Town in partnership with the Blue Heart Project.

From the 13th century there were buildings in this area that were only cleared during the creation of Manor Gardens in the mid 18th century.  We are hoping that the test pits will indicate whether any trace of these buildings, gardens or the wells that served them survive beneath the ground.

We’ll be in Manor Gardens on 26th and 27th February and at the Parsonage daily from 10am – 4pm and visitors are welcome to pop by and see what we’ve uncovered!

We will also have an Open Day at St Mary's Parsonage on 2nd March where visitors can find out more about the archaeology and history of the area and the work the projects are doing.

The Big Dig is run by Eastbourne Borough Council and is part of the Changing Chalk Partnership. The Big Dig aims to uncover the development of a downland settlement from a small farming community to a thriving conurbation through community test-pitting across the town of Eastbourne. Led by the National Trust, Changing Chalk is a multi-partner project connecting people, nature and heritage in the eastern South Downs. It is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. Together we are working towards creating a sustainable future - restoring lost habitats, bringing histories to life, and providing new experiences in the outdoors.