A Grave Discovery ...
Under the watchful eyes of our own PhD researcher Lindsay Keniston-Udall, selected students from the dig are undergoing some original research into the intriguing field of necrogeography and thanatology. Following the research of celebrated antiquarian and genealogist Ralph Bigland (1712 - 1784), our intrepid researchers are conducting a survey of monument and grave distribution in St. Mary's churchyard. Leah Powell and Alicia Or, members of the Berkeley project's Social Media team managed to steal an interview with Lindsay herself.
Q: What are you hoping to achieve by this research?
A: There has been so many different surveys, but nobody has ever done a study of Bigland's survey in this churchyard (or to our knowledge the others that he surveyed in Gloucestershire) and done a historical comparison of his original recordings and what remains of the cemetery now. Many people use Bigland's survey for genealogical research but not much attention has been paid to the archaeological record of then and now. We are hoping to not only understand a bit more about the evolution of the churchyard since Bigland's survey, but also raise awareness and get people interested in his work and in the archaeological importance of the churchyard itself which has a high proportion of listed tombs and some have recently undergone a restoration programme. Such a survey was really unusual in Bigland's time, which makes it even more important to archaeology as it is such a useful resource. We are also looking for any distribution patterns in the graveyard, for example, family groups and where people may have preferred to be buried.
Q: Have there been any difficulties so far?
A: We have some potential difficulties as we need to consider the fact that Bigland's survey is not chronological and was actually completed by his son, so there are some errors and mistakes in the record. Understanding why Bigland chose Gloucestershire as the base for his surveys is also a mystery considering he is a cheese-maker from London. He exported his cheese to France and beyond so it is very strange for him to take such an interest in Gloucester.
Q: What are you getting the students to do on the project?
A: I am currently working with students; Dee Hillier (2nd year), Hattie Burles (3rd year), Lydia Hills (2nd year). What I want them to do is to chronologically record the information from each tombstone and use a GPS so we can trace the distribution of the monuments from this time period. Right now, with this initial chronology, they are going round locating and photographing so they know exactly where everything is so they can eventually map it using a GPS. By the end of the week, the students will produce a report documenting who Bigland is, his work, aspects of the survey existing today, and potential distribution patterns.
We've only got a week, but if they have time, the students can pick one of the families (since relatives are usually buried together), and conduct their own genealogical research to find out who they were, what they did, and whether they were living on the estate or not.
Q: What inspired you to study in this area of the field?
A: My PhD is about Arnos Vale Cemetery (Bristol), I was Research Officer there and 'found' by Mark Horton after my contract had finished. Mark got in contact and managed to find me some funding for my PhD to enable important research on Arnos Vale to continue. So I've taken a week out to do some work on the Berkeley project; I have now been doing cemetery and churchyard research since 2007 so I'm very used to it.
Researcher of the Day: Lindsay has also asked us to announce the winner of the coveted title; 'Research Archaeologist of the Day'... so congratulations ... Hattie Burles!
© National Portrait Gallery, London. http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw41065/Ralph-Bigland?LinkID=mp55569&search=sas&sText=ralph+bigland&role=sit&rNo=1 [Accessed 22.05.2013]
 |
| Lindsay Keniston-Udall sporting a rather fetching high-vis jacket |
A: There has been so many different surveys, but nobody has ever done a study of Bigland's survey in this churchyard (or to our knowledge the others that he surveyed in Gloucestershire) and done a historical comparison of his original recordings and what remains of the cemetery now. Many people use Bigland's survey for genealogical research but not much attention has been paid to the archaeological record of then and now. We are hoping to not only understand a bit more about the evolution of the churchyard since Bigland's survey, but also raise awareness and get people interested in his work and in the archaeological importance of the churchyard itself which has a high proportion of listed tombs and some have recently undergone a restoration programme. Such a survey was really unusual in Bigland's time, which makes it even more important to archaeology as it is such a useful resource. We are also looking for any distribution patterns in the graveyard, for example, family groups and where people may have preferred to be buried.
Q: Have there been any difficulties so far?
A: We have some potential difficulties as we need to consider the fact that Bigland's survey is not chronological and was actually completed by his son, so there are some errors and mistakes in the record. Understanding why Bigland chose Gloucestershire as the base for his surveys is also a mystery considering he is a cheese-maker from London. He exported his cheese to France and beyond so it is very strange for him to take such an interest in Gloucester.
 | |
| Ralph Bigland (1712-1784) © National Portrait Gallery, London |
Q: What are you getting the students to do on the project?
A: I am currently working with students; Dee Hillier (2nd year), Hattie Burles (3rd year), Lydia Hills (2nd year). What I want them to do is to chronologically record the information from each tombstone and use a GPS so we can trace the distribution of the monuments from this time period. Right now, with this initial chronology, they are going round locating and photographing so they know exactly where everything is so they can eventually map it using a GPS. By the end of the week, the students will produce a report documenting who Bigland is, his work, aspects of the survey existing today, and potential distribution patterns.
We've only got a week, but if they have time, the students can pick one of the families (since relatives are usually buried together), and conduct their own genealogical research to find out who they were, what they did, and whether they were living on the estate or not.
Q: What inspired you to study in this area of the field?
A: My PhD is about Arnos Vale Cemetery (Bristol), I was Research Officer there and 'found' by Mark Horton after my contract had finished. Mark got in contact and managed to find me some funding for my PhD to enable important research on Arnos Vale to continue. So I've taken a week out to do some work on the Berkeley project; I have now been doing cemetery and churchyard research since 2007 so I'm very used to it.
Researcher of the Day: Lindsay has also asked us to announce the winner of the coveted title; 'Research Archaeologist of the Day'... so congratulations ... Hattie Burles!
 | |
| Hattie Burles earning her acclaim...in shades! |
© National Portrait Gallery, London. http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw41065/Ralph-Bigland?LinkID=mp55569&search=sas&sText=ralph+bigland&role=sit&rNo=1 [Accessed 22.05.2013]
Comments
Post a Comment