While work was being carried out on the rear façade and garden wall of
the Cater Museum, the team of volunteers unearthed an interesting find.
Behind the building they found the rubbish tip used by the inhabitants
of the house before it became the Cater Museum.
More than 6 crates of objects dating from the beginning and first half of the 20th century have been recovered. And now that the miniature dig is complete, an 18th or early 19th century brick floor has appeared, a few feet below the surface. Essex County buildings expert, David Andrews, has confirmed that dating and also some surprise results.
The listed garden wall was thought to be Victorian, as one of the bricks has 1849 inscribed in it. However, Mr. Andrews confirmed that the garden wall is really earlier that thought, being Georgian, as is the house. The dated brick was added later, either as a replacement brick or for decorative or commemorative purposes.
As the Heritage Lottery Grant supported work comes to an end, the staff at the museum look to re-open to the public on 26th July. That Saturday the museum will be open from 12 noon to 5:00 pm and the day will be all the more special with the display in the garden of a 1961 Ford Zodiac, kindly loaned by the Ford Motor Company. The car dates from the first year the Museum was open to the public.
More than 6 crates of objects dating from the beginning and first half of the 20th century have been recovered. And now that the miniature dig is complete, an 18th or early 19th century brick floor has appeared, a few feet below the surface. Essex County buildings expert, David Andrews, has confirmed that dating and also some surprise results.
The listed garden wall was thought to be Victorian, as one of the bricks has 1849 inscribed in it. However, Mr. Andrews confirmed that the garden wall is really earlier that thought, being Georgian, as is the house. The dated brick was added later, either as a replacement brick or for decorative or commemorative purposes.
As the Heritage Lottery Grant supported work comes to an end, the staff at the museum look to re-open to the public on 26th July. That Saturday the museum will be open from 12 noon to 5:00 pm and the day will be all the more special with the display in the garden of a 1961 Ford Zodiac, kindly loaned by the Ford Motor Company. The car dates from the first year the Museum was open to the public.