SCHOOL children will join an archaeological dig in their north Hampshire school grounds this month.

An annual archaeological exploration and dig around Kingsclere is moving to the village centre for the next three years, beginning with an excavation dig in Kingsclere Primary School’s playing field, in Ash Grove, throughout September.

In previous years the dig – which is a collaboration between the Kingsclere Heritage Association and the University of Southampton Department of Archaeology – has been held at Tidgrove Warren Farm, between Kings-clere and Overton, where Henry II had a residence in the 1170s.

This year’s project is investigating the site of an old tithe barn thought to lie in the school’s playing field, which used to be part of a large field previously known as Parsonage Mead.

Peter Woodman, treasurer of the Kingsclere Heritage Association, said: “We have finished at Tidgrove – we can’t raise any more money for that, but Southampton university are very keen to do the village itself. They think there’s a huge amount to uncover and it’s very much a training ground for their students.

“Previously, we have had as many as 20 students and this will give them experience of geophysical searching, digging and looking at old buildings.”

He added: “Tithe barns usually belong to vicars and Kingsclere’s tithe barn was certainly still around in 1837. They are looking for the foundations of the building.”

Children from the primary school will assist the dig and all finds will be recorded and professionally assessed.

About 17 university students are taking part and will use their equipment to examine the school site and various other locations around the village.

The team welcomes suggestions of sites to investigate and also hopes to produce detailed surveys on some of Kingsclere’s listed buildings using a range of techniques, including 3D computer imaging.

Anyone interested in the dig or with site suggestions can contact Janet Bond, on 01635 297610.