Layers of History Evaluation

Durnin Research was appointed in October 2019 by the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire to evaluate the Layers of History project.

This evaluation was tasked to capture and assess the extent to which the project has
performed in terms of meeting the conditions of its support from the National Lottery
Heritage Fund, and capture wider learning from the project to shape how Heritage
Lincolnshire approaches the delivery of community volunteering and delivering health and wellbeing activity (both on its own and in partnership with others).

‘Layers’ was created to give volunteers the opportunity to discover, understand and
investigate those aspects of Lincolnshire’s historic landscapes that are less obvious, perhaps only a few lumps or bumps in the ground, or an abandoned lump of concrete with mysterious metal protrusions.

Starting in 2017, Layers set out to engage over 200 volunteers during a three-year period
across eight sites:
Aslackby
Freiston Shore
Hackthorn
Hainton
Harlaxton
Revesby
South Ormsby
Southrey Woods

The project aimed to show volunteers how to study and research the landscape using
archaeological surveying techniques and other research tools; it achieved this
through online courses and local workshops.

Building on the success of predecessor project Lincolnshire Heritage at Risk, Heritage
Lincolnshire wanted Layers to focus on particular aspects of the county’s heritage (medieval earthwork remains, parks and gardens, and military landscapes) which make a significant contribution to the character of its historic landscape.

To find out more about the project please download the full report below:

Evaluation of Layers of History Executive Summary