Shapwick & Winscombe: Contrasting Communities in the Somerset Landscape

In Shapwick & Winscombe, the late Mick Aston tells about work on two Somerset parishes: Shapwick, on which he was engaged for ten years; and Winscombe.

Shapwick was historically a classic example of a closed settlement, dominated by one or two landlords; Winscombe of the open kind, enjoying relative freedom. But despite these contrasts, there were great similarities in the investigations: co-operation with colleagues of many disciplines, and wholehearted and valued involvement by the communities involved.

About the Author

Mick Aston will be known to many from TV’s Time Team (over 200 programmes). Before and as well as that he has been County Museum field officer in Oxfordshire and County Archaeologist for Somerset. He taught for many years at Bristol University, retiring as Emeritus Professor of Landscape Archaeology, and he is a prolific author. In 2012 he received a British Archaeology Award for Lifetime Achievement. He died in 2013.