Archaeology Group Lecture: Drowning Dorset

Our March lecture will be given by Dr Paul Cheetham from Bournemouth University.

Dorset was at the forefront of the development of the artificial water meadow systems and has some of the best preserved examples in the country. But what led to the need to invest fortunes in these grandiose agricultural engineering monuments and why did they fall out of use so suddenly at the start of the 20th century? Using local examples, this talk will discuss how water meadows were constructed and worked, and why they were so important to the industrialisation of the 18th and 19th centuries but paradoxically rendered white elephants by its success.

The Archaeology Group presents lectures by local experts and academics on a range of fascinating archaeological topics. Everyone is welcome!

The lectures take place on the second Thursday of the month, starting at 7:30. Tea and coffee are available to buy before the talks.

Admission is free for museum members (donations welcome), £3 for non-members.

Please see the Museum Events Calendar for the dates and details of all this year’s talks, and the Archaeology Group page for more information about our activities.