Rose of The Shires

‘Rose of the Shires’ is the third Heritage Lottery funded project to be managed by the Rockingham Forest Trust, all of which have developed the understanding and knowledge of Northamptonshire’s history.

‘Rose of the Shires’ is working with communities in 6 areas of the county that are important surviving examples of historic landscapes. The project uses unique mapping, aerial photography and a range of historic documents to look at 700 years of change – including the medieval open field farming systems, the subsequent process of enclosures and the evidence of deserted and replanned villages of Northamptonshire. It is also studying the built and social heritage of the villages in the 6 areas and involves local people in recording their surroundings. The information gathered is being used to produce reports on their historic environments, including recommendations for their future conservation and management. The reports will be adopted into Northamptonshire’s Historic Environment Records.

To view the historic mapping of the county and other information from our heritage projects please follow this link to our Heritage Resource Centre

Our heritage work also involves schools and young people in discovering more about the history of where they live – either by going out to schools to provide activities or by organising events at Stanwick Lakes. During 2011 a number of schools have been involved in helping our volunteer group and local communities to build an Iron Age roundhouse at Stanwick Lakes. At the end of May the schools came back to take part in the project’s Heritage Week – discovering what life was really like 2,000 years ago!