The Cheshire HER were delighted to learn that the Revealing Cheshire’s Past project was selected as a finalist in the 2006 British Archaeology Awards.

Held every two years, the awards celebrate the very best of British Archaeology. Revealing Cheshire's Past was entered for the Mick Aston Presentation Award, for the best presentation of an archaeological project or theme to the public and was one of three finalists.

The project received funding from the HLF through the “Unlocking Britain’s Past” initiative. The project helps people to find out more about the archaeology of Cheshire in a number of different ways. In 2002, a project officer was appointed to develop a website, public access database, travelling exhibitions and series of fact sheets.

The different elements of the project were produced gradually over a two and half year period, culminating in the launch of the online database and travelling museum exhibition in October 2004. Since then, the exhibition has completed its 15 month tour and the number of registered users of the database is growing steadily.

At the awards ceremony in Birmingham, the judges commended the Revealing Cheshire’s Past project on the breadth of audience reached by the different forms of presentation and outreach.

Historic Environment Officer, Moya Watson, who was the Project Officer, said “It is great to see the work of an Historic Environment Record recognised in this way. Although we weren’t the overall winners, we are really pleased to have national recognition for the project.  We have tried to reach as many people as possible with our displays and exhibitions in libraries and museums across the county. In particular, the fact sheets have been very popular. The original print run of 40,000 wasn’t enough and we had to reprint them to meet demand.”

To find out more visit www.cheshire.gov.uk/archaeology and follow the links to Revealing Cheshire’s Past

Or contact Moya Watson – 01244 603997