The study of the prehistory and history of South Bedfordshire and adjoining areas by archaeological methods

The Society

Formed in 1952 by Les Matthews and a group of fellow enthusiasts to rescue what they could from sites being destroyed by chalk quarrying and building. The Society took its name from the Anglo Saxon administrative district or Hundred of Bedfordshire in which Dunstable and the surrounding area lies.

The Society was indeed fortunate to have its own headquarters at 5 Winfield Street in Dunstable, a building that was a pub known as The Sportsman in Victorian times.

What were we doing in 2010?

Most Sunday mornings except during the winter we tried to get out on site to do Fieldwork, all of which was carried out with the prior permission of the landowner.

• Initially we would walk a field in a controlled manner to discover evidence of occupation e.g. potsherds, flint tools and metal, just about anything that is manmade.

• Secondly, if the site looked to be a likely prospect of former occupation we might then elect to carry out a geophysical survey using our own resistivity equipment.
• Assuming that this survey gave us an indication of a likely target, we would proceed to dig a trial test pit.

• From this point onward we were subject to sufficient resources and the landowner's tolerance. We were proud to be one of the few amateur societies who actively undertook their own excavations.
• All finds discovered during field walking or excavation were taken back to Winfield Street for cleaning, marking, identification and logging into our system, prior to an analytical report being made.

Many of us were keen to take up project work such as pottery typing, skeletal study, ceramic building materials (brick and tile), model making, exhibitions and even fund raising. We had a long-term project recording the Victorian housing in Dunstable.

We were happy to encourage and assist with any archaeological or historic project.

Could anyone join the Society?

Age or lack of archaeological knowledge were absolutely no barrier to becoming a member. This was a hobby that you could pursue in your gardening clothes and little equipment beyond a small trowel - we had all the other tools required.

There was no compulsion to come along to every session; this hobby could fit in with your lifestyle.

We published a members newsletter up to three times a year and a more formal Journal once a year to publish our work and conclusions.

We had a series of interesting talks throughout the winter period generally on an archaeological or historical topic.

We also held workshops on various aspects of archaeology for which society members had priority booking.

In addition we had a growing member s library covering most aspects of archaeology, and a separate one of history both local and worldwide.

There was also a social side of meals, outings and the occasional excursion to places of interest.

We also had Society publications for sale and a meeting room (with disabled access) with kitchen and toilet available for hire.