Wolverton is a Victorian/Edwardian Railway Town where the Royal Trains were made and the present one is still based. The project area was formerly the site of four 'villas' built by the London & North Western Railway Company in the mid-1800s to house the Station Master, the Railway Works Senior and their families. The houses were demolished in the 1960s and the site is now derelict and overgrown. It is known locally as the "Secret Garden".

Year 7 children from Bushfield Middle School worked with the locally based Living Archive to research the history of the villas through researching maps, plans, documents and photos. (see the Video)

The memories of Averil Sabin and Dot Anderson who lived in two of the villas just before they were demolished were also recorded. Dot has a collection of photos of her time living in the Stationmaster's House,The Limes, as her father Jack Hanson was the Wolverton Stationmaster.

We have also received photos and memorabilia from the daughter of someone who lived in one of the villas in the 1930s

From May to July 2003, every Friday, the Bushfield children excavated the ruins of The Limes under the supervision of professional archaeologists Martin Lightfoot and Andy Richmond. On Saturday mornings adults worked with the archaeologists living out their own 'Time Team' fantasies!

The footprint of the villa was uncovered and evidence of pottery and glass from the turn of the 20th century was discovered in what was originally probably a coal hole. Among the finds were pieces of a dinner plate showing the Euston Hotel. Amazingly all the parts were found and it has been pieced together.

The second phase of the project was the creation of a formal garden that reflects the footprint of the Limes and its neighbour The Hawthorns. The ground was cleared by a JCB and bricklayers marked out the walls with reclaimed bricks and created a path system around the excavation.

Volunteers have been meeting every Saturday morning from 10am till 1pm since the archaeological excavation in 2003. They have cleared bracken and weeds, planted trees and shrubs and are now maintaining the site.

With separately acquired funding two mosaic artists worked with teenage mothers, young mothers at SureStart and old age pensioners to create 5 mosaics. These have been placed in different 'rooms' of the villa footprint, each reflecting the former life of the room - for example a mangle in the scullery and a cat asleep on a mat in front of the living room fireplace.

An exhibition based on the research and excavation finds has been created and an interpretation panel based on the children's research is installed permanently on the site.

Group Name		Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council; Wolverton Society for Arts & Heritage
Project Contact		Denise Ilett dilett@btinternet.com
Address		Wolverton, Buckinghamshire
Project Postcode		MK12 5JR
Finishing Date		31 August 2004

	Similar LHI Projects Vinters Heritage Project Wirksworth, All Our Futures Heckington, A User's Guide