A Successful Survey Weekend at Hodnet Hall

Wings to the past would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Sir Algernon Heber Percy and Lady Jane for kindly granting permission to carry out our recent geophysical survey within the beautiful grounds of Hodnet Hall, to Hodnet Charities for their generous funding and Dr Martin Huggon of Lincoln Bishop University for their professional services and support, all of which made this important stage of the research possible.

Over the weekend, the team and community volunteers explored the landscape around Hodnet Hall and Gardens seeking to locate the Old Hall and understand the field adjacent to the brook and near to the Motte and Bailey.  Surveys were conducted using a combination of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), resistivity, and GPS topographical survey techniques. Despite a few technical issues with the GPR equipment that proculded a full survey of the Old Hall site, extensive resistivity work was completed across the field by the brook, an area with potential to to relate to the motte and bailey and were it is believed a medieval and post-medieval mill may have been located.  In addition an initial walking survey of the brook was conducted. 

Initial findings from the surveys are very promising. A potential feature has been identified where the riverbed of the brook drops to a depth of around two metres, which may be associated with the historic mill’s water system. In addition, a large iron blade was discovered in the brook, possibly a remnant of the mill machinery.  The geophysical survey result will take a while to be interpreted and result s should be avaiable to the team in late 2025. 

We are delighted to share that Lincoln Bishop University has now offered to double their academic contribution at no cost, as part of their Knowledge Exchange research priorities. This partnership means that the funding kindly provided by Hodnet Charities will go even further,  supporting twice the amount of analysis and interpretation and extending the project’s research capacity into 2026.

Satellite image of a landscape with large lakes, surrounding fields, and a network of roads and pathways. The terrain appears mostly flat with some elevation changes around the lakes.

The weekend also brought together members of the local community and military volunteers, with over ten community participants and eight service personnel (and their families) taking part. Visitors to the Hall on teh Sunday enjoyed seeing finds from previous excavations, learning about the survey methods, and watching children take part in a hands-on sand test pit activity.

Feedback from everyone involved was overwhelmingly positive, and the project team is already planning further work for early 2026, expanding the survey to include parts of the village.

We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported the Hodnet Heritage weekend,  particularly Sir Heber Percy, Hodnet Charities, Lincoln Bishop University, and all the volunteers who gave their time and enthusiasm to uncover more of Hodnet’s fascinating past.

A circular logo with the words 'HODNET HERITAGE' on top and 'WINGS TO THE PAST' on the bottom. The logo features a stylized illustration of a village with a church and houses, with a winding path leading towards the horizon.
Group of people outdoors in a park, standing under a white and gray canopy, holding a flag that says "Wing to the Past," with trees and a wooden fence in the background.
Children and adults in a grassy field playing with long jump ropes, with surrounding trees in the background.
Two young children playing with sand in a Sand Pendulum game outdoors, surrounded by tools and equipment.
Two children playing in a sandbox outdoors. The older boy is wearing a black sweater with orange pumpkin prints, using a toy shovel. The younger boy is dressed in a colorful sweater, pointing and smiling. Trees and grass are visible in the background
A man showing and explaining various rocks and artifacts laid out on a table outdoors to two children watching intently.
A young boy with blonde hair wearing a Halloween-themed shirt shows a small object, possibly a shell, to a woman bending over him, outdoors on grass with various items around, including a blanket, tools, and a table.
Two children and two dogs standing on a grassy area with fallen leaves in autumn, under a tent or canopy in a park-like setting with trees and a wooden fence in the background.
Group of people working together outdoors in a grassy area, some holding ropes, with a person using a yellow machine, possibly involved in a team activity or training.
Three boys are playing with a yellow frame and ropes on a grassy field near trees, with one boy smiling and wearing a blue hoodie.
Three people in an outdoor grassy area at the edge of a forest, conducting a scientific experiment with wires and measuring equipment.
Group of people, including children and adults, standing on a paved pathway in a park-like setting with trees and bushes. Some are wearing yellow safety vests, and there are traffic cones nearby.
People walking and standing in a park with green trees and bushes, some wearing high visibility vests.
Group of people, including children wearing yellow safety vests, gathered outdoors in a park, possibly for a guided tour or educational activity.
People at a park, some wearing high-visibility vests, walking and talking on a pathway surrounded by greenery.
Group of six people, including children and adults, standing on a gravel path in a park, with some wearing high-vis vests, and a park ranger in the background.
A group of six people, including children, walking and standing on a paved path in a park with lush greenery and trees.
Group of people, including a child, walking outdoors in a park on a cloudy day, some wearing reflective vests.
Group of people standing and talking in a park surrounded by trees and greenery, some wearing backpacks and one person wearing a high visibility vest.
Group of six people walking on a paved path through a park with green trees and fallen leaves, some wearing backpacks and yellow safety vests.
Group of people walking on a paved path in a park surrounded by trees and fallen leaves.
Black and white photo of traditional Tudor-style houses on Church Street in Hodnet, with a curved road and vintage street lamp in the foreground.