THE search is on for those who have taken part in the community digs in Hyde over the last 25 years.

Hyde900, to accompany the reunion, have arranged an exhibition of the spectacular finds from the recent digs, together with a display featuring not only photos of those who took part in the 2016-18 digs, but also recently discovered photos of the diggers of the 1995-99 excavations.

David Spurling, organiser of the Hyde900 digs said: “Records are sparse for those taking part in the Hyde Abbey community digs of 1995-99, organised by Winchester Museum, so we hope that anyone involved will contact us to apply to attend the event.”

Hyde900 trustee, Susan Jones, is coordinating the event and can be contacted via susanlillianjones@gmail.com.

It was from the digs in the late 1990s that a bone was discovered that some 16 years later was analysed and revealed to have come from the period in which King Alfred lived, the late ninth century. Initially the bone had been placed in a box and put into storage.

In recent years Hyde 900 has undertaken community digs on the site of Hyde Abbey, one of the largest medieval monasteries that was demolished in the 16th Dissolution ordered by Henry VIII.

The event will take place on Wednesday September 18 from 6-8pm at the recently-refurbished Gallery of a 1,000 Years in the Winchester City Museum, by permission of the Hampshire Cultural Trust.

The gallery houses the reconstruction of the magnificent Norman cloister arch, discovered in the Hyde900 excavations.

The photographic displays have been made possible by a grant from Hampshire Archives Trust.

The trust’s mission is to promote the conservation and preservation of archives for the benefit of the public and grants may be applied for via their website https://hampshirearchivestrust.co.uk/