Archaeological dig at church
Archaeologists are to begin digging at a Penkridge church after a ground survey detected possible traces of a much earlier building at the site.
Commercial Archaeology carried out the geophysical survey of the northern section of the church yard at St Michael and All Angels church.
Experts believe a church was founded at the site between 946 and 955 AD. Documentary evidence claims King Eadred founded the church.
Director at Commercial Archaeology, Helen Martin-Bacon, said: "We are going to be doing trenching at the site. There is most certainly something there to look at having done a survey of the site.
"We are hoping there will be remains of the early medieval church. Foundations, possibly, showing when it was laid.
"The aim of the trial trenching is to establish the date, significance and level of preservation of the buried archaeological remains."
The area of site being looked at is 400 sq m. The dig will go down about a metre, and will take around two weeks to complete.
Ms Martin-Bacon added: "What we find we will look to preserve. There would be some kind of information panel put up also explaining what was discovered."
The church commissioned the survey by the Staffordshire-based firm after plans were put forward for a hall.
It is hoped the dig will shed some light on the church's royal connections.
It is not just the church which holds royal significance. King Eadred's nephew King Edgar made Penkridge his capital for three years.
The survey carried out by the company used a method known as ground penetrating radar.
It records reflected radio waves that are pulsed into the ground as a radar antenna is dragged along the ground surface.
The trenching involves digging a number of small excavations.
Its purpose is to establish the date, significance and nature of any archaeological remains.
Ms Martin-Bacon said: "In commissioning these archaeological investigations, the parish of Penkridge has provided a wonderful opportunity for us to throw light on the earliest origins of the Church of St. Michael and All Angels."
Rev Greg Yerbury said: "I personally think the old church was more likely to be closer to the bowling green, not the north side of the church.
"But then no-one is quite sure, so we will have to wait and see what comes up."
Rev Yerbury said the church's old entrance, from 1225 to 1681, was where the dig will take place.
