A historic marker post, unearthed during the scub clearance at Sham Castle has now been identified and is soon to be reinstated. The National Trust moved the stone out of harm’s way to prepare the field to be sown as a native meadow. The local history society, concerned for the stone’s archeaological significance, contacted me for its preservation.

Since I put them in contact, the experts from the Bathwick and Bathampton Local History Societies and BathNES council met at the Sham Castle with the National Trust manager to relocate the stone. The marker was put up by the Bath Corporation to mark springs which watered the city in the 1700s, one of a series on the hillside. Using a map from the 1840s they were able to agree an exact location for the stone, to which the National Trust will return it and reinstate the stone upright.

Like the rest of the Sham Castle project, this is another example of local people using their own skills and knowledge to improve their environment, without relying on the local council. I am not an archaeologist (more an architectural historian!) and I didn’t need to be; we have the expertise in our comminuty, it just needs to be linked up.