50 volunteers set to dig into medieval past at Silloth farm

The excavation at High Tarns Farm is being organised by Grampus Heritage and Training Ltd, a group with three decades of experience running archaeological training programmes and digs both locally and across Europe.

In recent years, Grampus has been focusing its research and the land surrounding Abbeytown's Holme Cultram Abbey, a Cistercian monastery.

The excavation at High Tarns Farm in Silloth comes after the identification of an unusual crop mark in 2022 from an aerial viewpoint. 

It suggests the potential presence of a once-large building measuring 50 metres in length and 15 metres in width.

The dig follows after crop marks were spotted from aerial footage in 2022 (Image: Mark Graham)

Crop marks in archaeology are the visible traces or patterns in crops or grass that highlight potential historic features underground. 

"We know from our historical documents that the Cistercian Monestry, established in 1160, had a series of grange farms to develop agriculture in the area," said lead archaeologist Mark Graham. 

"But we don’t know exactly where it was."

There are no previously recorded buildings in this location on historic maps. 

“A grange farm would be there to develop the agriculture but something it might have would be a great barn. As it suggests, a big timber and stone building in the landscape. 

"One hypothesis is that one crop mark may be related.

“One, but more unlikely, is that it could be an early medieval hall.

"If it was, it would be something we had no idea existed at Tarns.

"At this stage, it’s part of the excitement," Mark said. 

The dig is set to begin on July 22 (Image: MGraham)

The upcoming dig, which will begin on July 22, following a series of geophysical surveys is being funded by the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme.

“There is no one else on the planet that could tell you what these things are at the minutee, the only way is to dig," he said. 

“The volunteers are so interested in finding these gaps in our history they give their time for nothing in all sorts of weather," he said.