Midsomer Norton’s Big Dig is due to take place this Saturday, 21st July with residents who have registered bringing in their finds to the Town Hall to show the experts between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Big Dig is all about residents being invited to join in a community archaeological dig in a bid to discover medieval Midsomer Norton.

The first of a series of events took take place at the Town Hall during half-term in February, and a number of local people signed up. Once you register, your location is checked and approved by the Senior Archaeological Officer at B&NES – and when confirmation is received, you can dig a small, two foot cubic hole and carefully bag any bits of pottery or brick etc. that you find for the experts at the Town Hall to look at.

It’s not too late to take part – for further details, please ring: 07530 042627. The initiative, open to all ages, is being led by a partnership of B&NES Heritage and Planning Services and the Midsomer Norton Society, with the aim of involving as many local people as possible in the Big Dig on the 21st July. This is when people living in the town will be invited to excavate a one metre square patch of ground in their gardens.

Michael Rich, Chair of the Midsomer Norton Society and Town Councillor, said: “This is an incredibly exciting initiative. The more people take part, the more excavation squares we can have, and thereby build up a clearer picture of the nature of Midsomer Norton on the ground in medieval times to add to the extensive research amassed by the Society. We are really keen to have children and families all working together.”

To register for the Midsomer Norton Big Dig, ring: 07530 042627. Once you have registered, you will receive a briefing pack for the main event this Saturday, 21st July.