In July 2008 as part of National Archaeology Week an archaeology day is planned to be held in Warmley Garden. Warmley the home of Georgian industrialist William Campion which was also the site of his innovative factory.
The South Gloucestershire episode of “Archaeology in the Park” is to be held in the grounds of Warmley House, South Gloucestershire; although it is, perhaps, not as famous as other cradles of the Industrial Revolution, Warmley was the first site to integrate the production of copper, brass and zinc. As well as being the first works in England to produce zinc on a commercial scale, it is the first known factory to use a Newcomen steam engine for industrial purposes. William Champion so favoured an integrated approach to manufacture that he built his house on the site, and has a designer garden in which the factory formed an important part of the layout and entertainment. Features include underground grottos; a large lake now a caravan park, a summerhouse, enormous ice house; an echo pond and a statue of Neptune. The Kingswood heritage museum will be open for the day. A mainly industrial theme is intended but we won’t be exclusive. The programme for the day has not been settled but is likely to include tours of the site, including the grottos, a demonstration of the use of metal detectors in archaeology, illustrated talks, a fool, archery displays, finds recognition, displays and stalls, the opening of Warmley clock tower, Tudor Music and geophysical survey.
The day is one of a series organised by Local Authority Archaeologists in Bristol, Bath & North-east Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.