A Landscape History
and Village Survey

The Historic Lathom Project was conceived by the Trust in January 2001. The project was designed to involve the local community in investigating the rich history of the village, and to enable the results to be presented to local audiences in an interesting and understandable manner.

THE PROJECT
Lathom is a large township in West Lancashire, first recorded at Domesday and which was important throughout the medieval and post-medieval period, being associated with the seat of the Stanleys, one of the largest landholders in the region. The Lathom Park Trust aims to undertake a survey of the historic settlement in the township in order to identify and explain the nature and development of the landscape associated with Lathom throughout this period.
The study will be particularly involved in looking at what form the earliest settlement took, when it originated, where it was located, what the landscape looked like in the medieval period and how this changed. This should form the basis for many local initiatives associated with education and heritage matters that will allow a wider appreciation of the historical richness of the surviving landscape of Lathom.

The research will be done by means of a Vernacular Building Survey, a programme of work at the Duttons Farm Iron Age site incorporating a geophysical survey, fieldwalking and archaeological excavation. Also, a documentary study of existing and former medieval deer park boundaries and then the presentation of the results to a wider audience through a dedicated web site, non-technical booklet, interpretation boards, open days, guided walks and talks.

FUNDING
In April 2001, the Lathom Park Trust submitted a grant application to the Local Heritage Initiative (LHI) in order to fund the first stage of a long-term historic landscape and village survey: The Historic Lathom Project. LHI is part of the National Heritage Memorial Fund administered by the Countryside Agency to fund a wide range of local community led heritage projects and restoration schemes.

THE PROJECT TEAM

Project Directors:
Stephen Baldwin and
Jamie Quartermaine

Vernacular Buildings Survey:
Alison Plummer (Consultant)
Eric Joinson and Stephen Baldwin (co-ordinators)
Paul Smith, Vicky Hodge,
Kevin Brookfield,
Alison Moore, Pauline Davies, Mark Sephton, John Hartley,
Ross and Fiona Duggan, Peter Smith, Del Ellis,
Peter Ferguson, Lynn Lomas and Jeff Ratcliffe.

Duttons Farm:
Ron Cowell, National Museums Liverpool

Medieval Park Survey:
Stephen Baldwin and John Trippier (co-ordinators)
Dr Peter Sewell (Tithe Award Supervisor)
Fay Alexander, Charles and Jenny Coombes,
Pauline Davies, Vicky Hodge,
Eileen Rooney, Paul Smith, Mark Sephton, John Hartley, Pat Boylett, Jeff Lane,
Mollie Yates, Mark Hill and Jeff Ratcliffe.
Nigel Neil and Dr Alan Crosby (Consultants)

Web Site Design Group:
John Knowles and Stephen Baldwin (co-ordinators)
Ron Cowell, David Dunn, Peter Ferguson and
Jamie Quartermaine

Local History/Guide Booklet: Stephen Baldwin, Ron Cowell, David Dunn, Peter Ferguson, Mark Fletcher,
John Hinchliffe,
John Knowles, John Hayton, John Trippier and
Jamie Quartermaine

HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Members of the Trust and the local community can express an interest and actively participate in future projects by contacting the Trust.

In August 2001 the Trust accepted a grant awarded by LHI.
In addition to this grant the Trust has been awarded a further sum from the Nationwide Building Society to fund publication and presentation of the results. 'In kind' contributions have also been promised to the project by other partners, including the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)..