SIEGE MUSEUM AND LUMEN CHRISTI COLLEGE DIG IT!

The Siege Museum and Lumen Christi College in Londonderry recently embarked on an exciting partnership project looking for archaeological evidence of the Great Siege of 1689.

The project involved digging an exploratory trench in the school grounds and was generously funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.  Some students even had the unique opportunity to work alongside staff from the Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork, Queen’s University looking for historic artefacts.

Lumen Christi College is built beside the remains of an old windmill which was the focus of intense fighting during the Siege.  The area surrounding the historic ruins has changed beyond recognition over the last three centuries.  In the eighteenth century it was the site of the Cassina of the Bishop of Londonderry.  Later, it was St. Columb’s College and the Christian Brothers School, before becoming the present day school.

Students from the school and the neighbouring primary, Nazareth House, enjoyed discovering what it is like to be an archaeologist.  Fortunately, the sun shone and everyone had a fascinating and exciting experience.  Unfortunately, no evidence was found of cannons, muskets or forgotten ramparts but other interesting Siege period artefacts were discovered including fragments of clay pipes and pottery.

William Moore, Chairman of the Siege Museum Management Committee thanked Lumen Christi College for agreeing to facilitate the dig.   “On behalf of the Siege Museum, I would like to express our appreciation to the Board of Governors of the College for allowing the archaeologists from Queen’s University to excavate in the school grounds.  We are delighted with the finds and also for the opportunity to introduce the exciting story of the Siege to the school community.  In addition, our thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund without whom this project would not have been possible.”

Stephen Doherty, of Lumen Christi College said, “This was an exciting and unique occasion for us.  Our students were fascinated with the dig and even had the opportunity to get their hands dirty.  Aside from the intriguing Siege period artefacts, one of our students found a Neolithic flint, potentially dating to 4000BC.  This opens up all sorts of possibilities as to what the site may have housed in the past.  Our thanks to HLF, QUB, Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork and to the Siege Museum for making this excavation possible.”

Please note, the grounds of Lumen Christi College are not open to the public.  The finds from the dig will be on display later this year.  Admission to the Siege Museum is £3 and opening hours are Monday-Saturday 10.00am-4.30pm. For further details please contact the Siege Museum, 13 Society Street, Tel: 028 7126 1219 or Email: info@thesiegemuseum.org.