Description
Flower Queen, celebrating the magic of midsummer. Long glorious days, warm summer breeze, flowers nourished blooming and dreamy skies.
Audio read by: Vicky Breakwell from BBC Hereford and Worcester
Brought to you by
Artist
Laura Pee
Laura is a a multi-disciplinary artist. The Natural World has always been a source of inspiration to her, and her work is predominantly based on our connections with it, considering what nurtures and grounds us. In the fast-developing, heavily technology-based world we find ourselves living in, it is easy to become disconnected from the beauty that surrounds us. Laura is originally from a rural village in Norfolk, where her appreciation for nature began; this love translates through all her work.
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23. Sawmill Walk
Near to this spot, on a site now occupied by the Hive, some of Worcester’s most substantial roman archaeology was uncovered. Excavations of the site prior to the Hive’s construction offered a fascinating glimpse in to Worcester’s ancient past.
An early Roman road was uncovered dated to the 2nd Century. This was 4 metres wide and running east to west with a ditch running adjacent on its southern edge.
More about this location
23. Sawmill Walk
This road possibly led down from the terrace on which Worcester stands to the flood plain and the River Severn. The position of this road may offer a clue as to the site of a fording point on the river or, if one existed, a Roman bridge.
It has been suggested that this road joined the main road north in the area around Broad Street and took the route north towards Droitwich.
We know that iron production took place in certain areas of the city (such as at Sidbury and Pitchcroft), but not here at The Butts. During the archaeological excavations nearly five tonnes of iron slag were uncovered here!
The archaeological report suggests that, as the city’s iron industry grew, waste such as this from the production of iron was transported to the banks of the Severn where, mixed with rubble, it formed the basis of a hard standing to build up the area where iron produced was loaded on to transport at the river.
In other areas of the city, evidence of wealth has been uncovered, such as at Britannia Square further North, where a large Roman villa was uncovered. It seems increasingly likely that such wealth was accumulated as a result of the city’s large-scale iron production.
The excavations also uncovered the foundations of several buildings from the later Roman period along the length of the revealed road. There was a large quantity of materials uncovered relating to Roman ovens and food production, suggesting that these buildings formed part of a market offering foodstuffs to workers, traders and travellers in the busy industrial area.
Many of these finds are now openly displayed at The Hive, where they were relocated following construction of the building.
This location fact has been provided by Joe Tierney of Faithful History. To learn more stories of the ancient city of Worcester, spanning thousands of years of history in ‘The Faithful City’, visit https://www.facebook.com/faithfulhistoryworcester
Take home your own feathered friend
In October 2024 all 40 large penguins and one chick will be auctioned to raise funds for the care provided by St Richard’s Hospice.
In 2021, 31 stunning elephant sculptures raised a mammoth £368,800 to support the care provided by St Richard’s Hospice across Worcestershire.
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