The National Forest’s LANDshapes project interview with Stephen Saunders

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LANt013 Stephen Saunders
LANDshapes Oral History interview summary

In this fascinating recording meet Steve Saunders, a Coalville lad who really knows his landscape. An archaeologist from an early age, Steve talks of his enthusiasm for nature and history 'Whenever I could get out, I did get out and just roamed'. Discover how to identify different pottery styles, learn about midden scatter, bell pits and derricks and find out what the Romans got up to in the North West Leicestershire / South Derbyshire areas. Hear about Steve's saddle quern '….it's 5000 years old', and an Acheulean hand axe found in Snibston 'that's as old as anything that's been made in Britain, 500,000 years old' and which was '…found by somebody out walking his dog'. Share in Steve's love for the history and heritage of his area as he says 'I think people ought to realise how much this district, in different ways…. has contributed to things like the war efforts in the amount of coal and corn and wheat they've grown. They really did…push the boat out and that meant a lot of sacrifice on the landscape….Things like standing stones and barrows, they just got hammered and ploughed out an pulled down'. And hear about Steve's favourite place 'It's got everything… eolithic… Bronze Age… moot sites… a sacred landscape littered with beaker burials and barrows…. it's just an incredible landscape'.

Interviewer: Roger Kitchen.
Interview Date: 01/03/2005
Landshape Zone: Leicestershire and Derbyshire Coalfield
Parish: Ibstock
Location: Ibstock, Leicestershire,
Date of birth: 11/1966
Location of Original: Originals held with The National Forest Company.
Reference LANt013

Last updated: 15/9/2005
East Midland Oral History Archive Web maintainer
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