The village of Sheinton has become an overnight star thanks to a heritage project by a team which has culminated in a book which is believed to be the first in-depth look at the village. And it is a star in the literal sense because historian Dr Trevor Hill, who was the main spur behind the project, was awarded the honour of the Midland Heritage Star for his work with the Sheinton Heritage Group.
And as part of that award he gets to name a star in the heavens - for which he has chosen the name Shineton, using an uncommon alternative spelling of the village’s name.
Mike Rayner of the group said: “It’s called a Midland Heritage Star. It’s a bit of a gimmick, but quite fun. He is allowed to name a particular star. I don’t know how the heritage people come to an agreement on which star. He has given it the name Shineton, and there’s a star up there of that name, for which we have the co-ordinates. I don’t know whether it’s gone through officially yet.
“I think it might be visible if you have the right equipment.”
As for the spelling, he added: “There isn’t a right way or a wrong way with the spelling of names really as they change so enormously over the centuries.”
The book is called “Sheinton, Shropshire - Geology, Landscape, History & Archaeology.”
Mr Rayner said: “The whole project was really set off by Trevor Hill, whose writings feature largely in the book. He set the project going a couple of years ago and got together people interested in different aspects of Sheinton.”
It was believed to be the first book about the village, which is near Cressage.
“We don’t think there’s ever been any book on Sheinton, which is rather nice. It’s very difficult to find references to Sheinton.”
And it was because Sheinton was left out of the published Victoria County History of Shropshire that the group wanted to tackle the project to fill in the “gap”.
“The funding ran out and the poor chaps who had done all the work on it were made redundant, I suppose. We had all been expecting the Shrewsbury volume to come out with the parish in. We felt frustrated and felt that we would do something about it.”
The group received a grant from the Local Heritage Initiative for two years finishing at the end of June this year.
The project aimed to raise awareness of the heritage of Sheinton and the surrounding area, give local people the chance to take part in archaeological and geological activitives and also to research historical resources. There were also lectures, workshops, guided walks and visits to spread the news of the findings.
For the archaeological investigations Sheinton proved to be virgin territory, and this led to some exciting discoveries.
“The most exciting is the confirmation by professional archaeologists after our dig that there was a definite Roman site in Sheinton. Nobody knew that. Everywhere where we have dug we have found Roman pottery, Roman roof tiles, Roman oil lamps and so on.”
The conclusion was that there had been a Roman farmstead at Sheinton.
Mr Rayner said there was a prospect of more discoveries when excavations are restarted later this year.
“Sheinton, Shropshire” costs £10 and is available from Pengwern Books in Shrewsbury; Burway Books in Church Stretton; Wenlock Books in Much Wenlock; or from editor Mike Rayner at 36 Severn Way, Cressage, SY5 6DS; or Trevor Hill, 5 Severn Way, Cressage SY5 6DS (01952) 510579.
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