Latest news with #Cookham
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
In pictures: 8th Century monastery dig in Cookham
Archaeology students have been uncovering evidence of early end-of-life care during excavations at an 8th Century and staff from the University of Reading have been taking part in an annual dig at the site in Cookham, year Thomas Hayes, director of the university's field school, said they had found evidence of illness and treatment in human remains, including bedsores, suggesting palliative care may have taken Sophia Mills, a forensic archaeology expert at the university, said it had been a "very delicate process" as "these individuals have not chosen to be excavated and so we are being as respectful as we can be and very, very careful". You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
03-08-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Unearthing end-of-life care at 8th Century Cookham monastery
A group of archaeology students have said their work feels "really important" after uncovering evidence of early end-of-life care during excavations at an 8th Century of Reading students and staff have been taking part in an annual dig at the site in Cookham, Berkshire, and a neighbouring team first discovered the Anglo-Saxon site in Cookham, Berkshire, in Hayes, director of the university's field school, said this year they had found evidence of illness and treatment in human remains, including bedsores, suggesting palliative care may have taken place. "It feels like I'm doing something really important," said first year undergraduate student Thalia Argrave."It's just the constant reminder that these were people, they were living their lives just as we're currently living our lives, and we're finding out about them and rediscovering them now. I'm really happy to be a part of [it]." Mr Hayes said the archaeologists had found "a lot more in the way of human remains", particularly "a number of juvenile remains".The evidence of those in the monastery caring for the sick, he said, was "really important"."At the time, care for the soul and care for the body were treated almost as the same - equal importance."But it's also showing the execution of this religious duty in the actual practice of this monastery."We don't always see that in the archaeological record but here we're seeing it very actively in the population that we're finding." Ms Argrave said the team spent a year preparing for the dig, adding: "It's really valuable and important to be part of that first hand."There are experts everywhere in the trenches so we're asking lots of questions and learning so much." Elearnor Rawlings, another first year student, said taking part in the dig made her appreciate how much effort is involved."I have so much more appreciation for the work that goes into what they put in the museums, because this takes so long to slowly inch away all the soil and to get such a good clear outline," she said. "I'm loving it."The excavated skeletons "tell their own stories", she added. "The bones themselves can tell you so much more about what a person's life would have looked like in that time." Mr Hayes said it was interesting to see the students get involved."Some of the students, who had no expectations and didn't know what to expect from this, are really taking to it and really enjoying it."This year, we've got a fantastic group of students who are just getting stuck in and asking loads of really interesting questions and really engaging with the subject." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sir Stanley Spencer's belongings sold by grandson at auction
Items that belonged to one of the leading figures in British art between the World Wars, along with some of his work, have been sold at of Sir Stanley Spencer's sketchbooks, a palette and a Bible given to him while he served as a soldier in World War One were amongst those put up for sale by his grandson John Spencer said he was struggling for space for all of the items, having grown up with them in Cookham, Stanley became synonymous with the village, where he was born, and his most famous works are perhaps biblical scenes he set there. "[The items have] been left in the family. I grew up with them in Cookham. I am a Cookham boy; they were in our house when I grew up," Mr Spencer, whose mother Unity was also an artist, work auctioned off at Dreweatts in Newbury on Thursday included work by Mr Spencer's grandmother Hilda Carline, who Sir Stanley divorced in the 1930s."It's just stuff we had. I had lots of the pictures of my grandfather, grandmother, my mother. And I've lived with it all of my life. I have had lots of it on my walls," he added."It's a responsibility looking after them all and it takes a lot of space and it's time for them to find new homes." Portrait of Mrs Carline, Sir Stanley's work of his mother-in-law Anne Carline, sold for £11,430. A long letter Sir Stanley wrote to Hilda Carline in 1937 on wallpaper following the breakdown of their marriage sold for £6, had filed for divorce and went onto marry artist Patricia Preece a week later. But that marriage was never consummated and Preece lived in Sir Stanley's house with her Stanley's palette sold for £3,048. It was the first one to have been sold at auction since one bought by David Bowie sold for £11,000 in 2016. The Bible Sir Stanley received on signing up to the 9th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment sold for £889 and of two sketchbooks, one sold for £4,445. The other failed to Mr Spencer, the items were sold simply to make room."We've still got sketchbooks and notebooks and other bits and pieces," he said. "I have got loads of letters on file that I have got to work through."There are masses of material and projects still to do. This is just finding new homes for interesting and varied works." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
