Schoolchildren will be joining archaeologists hoping to dig up a slice of history in Telford Town Park next week.

The park will echo to the sounds of scraping trowels from Wednesday to Saturday from an excavation of Hinkshay Row, a row of houses built for the workers at the nearby ironworks and demolished in the 1970s. The excavation is being led by Paul Belford from the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.

It will involve local primary and secondary schoolchildren, community groups and members of the public.

Mr Belford said: “This is a really exciting project to work on, since we will be able to look into the daily lives of the people who made Telford’s history.

“We can bring to life the industrial and economic history with the everyday objects left behind.”

Jo Ridgway, project manager for Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “The history of the town park is often overlooked, but this archaeological project has shown that the area is just as rich in history as the Ironbridge Gorge – and there is still lots more to discover.”

The dig is part of the Parks for People Project which has been funded by a Parks for People Development Grant – a joint initiative between the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery and Telford & Wrekin Council.

The excavation will follow on from an historical assessment of the town park which was prepared by the Ironbridge archaeology team and consultants Nexus Heritage.

Work on multi-million pound plans to transform the park into a haven of eco-trails and play areas is set to start in the autumn.

Planners gave the green light to the £3.8 million proposals to breathe new life into the town park at a meeting earlier this year.

It would see various improvement works carried out around the visitor attraction to increase awareness of its heritage.

There are still limited places available to join the excavation on Friday and Saturday.

Mr Belford and his team are also keen to hear from anyone who lived in Hinkshay Row and would love to hear memories of life there.

For further information please contact Jo Ridgway on (01952) 382602.

By Wayne Beese