CARHAMPTON’S long-awaited summer season launch of the Parish Heritage Centre had to be hurriedly re-arranged last Saturday when the main speakers at the opening exhibition ‘Carhampton parish in the Dark Ages’, were unable to attend through illness.

Finds from excavations at Eastbury Farm in 1993, brought by the South West Heritage Trust, were to be interpreted in a lecture by Nancy and Charles Hollinrake, the archaeologists responsible for that dig.

However, at the last minute, Nancy was taken ill and both were unable to attend, forcing a new schedule to be devised with Amal Khreisheh, of the Heritage Trust, stepping up to give a talk in the afternoon.

Keith Jones introduced the afternoon by explaining the new ‘Plan B” to a full hall and wishing the Hollinrakes well.

Ralph Austin began by describing ‘Dark Ages’ trade routes, highlighting Carhampton as a premier site for iron and steel production prior to the Viking raids. Amal Khreisheh followed with an illustrated talk focused on treasures from archaeological collections of Somerset and North Somerset.

She took the audience on a journey through the ages with descriptions and photographs of a Neolithic hand-axe found near Chard, through to a puzzle ring from the post-medieval period.

This entertaining and informative talk given by the trust’s curator of archaeology, who came to Carhampton expecting to hear a lecture and, instead, found herself delivering one, was well received.

Jonathan Greenhow briefed the audience on the programme of events for the coming year before they enjoyed tea and cake, looked at the Eastbury finds previously unseen in the village, and visited the new display, ‘Carhampton Parish, in the Dark Ages’ in the Heritage Centre.

Valuable links with the SW Heritage Trust were strengthened. Members of the public were encouraged to visit it to see artefacts or for research purposes - by appointment only - by phoning 01823 337600.

The Dark Ages Exhibition in Carhampton Parish Heritage Centre will be open on Tuesdays 2.30-4.30pm and Saturdays 10.30am-noon - or by appointment - 01643 821620 - until the end of July.