Appleton Area Archaeological Research Project

Excavation image

Saturday 20 April 2024: Besselsleigh Manor excavations

Come and visit the excavations of the Anglo-Saxon to Eighteenth Century Manor and its deserted village at the Rye Estate OX13 5PY, on Saturday 20 April from 10am-3pm. 

  • Excavation tours at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm
  • Short talks
  • Finds displays
  • Try excavation and metal detecting
  • Access to the Church of St Lawrence
  • Activities for young people 

Parking on grass and Portaloos are available.

No charge but donations welcome!

Directions: The site is adjacent to St Lawrence Church Besselsleigh, just off the A420, and south of the modern village of Besselsleigh.

Please do not go into the drive of Rye House or to either Besselsleigh or Appleton villages.

FROM OXFORD, on the A420, drive past the Greyhound Pub on the right, there is a sign for St Lawrence Church after c 1km and the right turning is very shortly afterwards, signposted Parklands Campus. It can be easier to pass the site and go round the next roundabout and come back northbound than turn right across the southbound A420. 

FROM SWINDON, on the A420, go past the Appleton village turning, across the roundabout, past the bus stop on your left, and the left turn to Parklands Campus is shortly after, just before the church layby.

A bus from Oxford stops at the Greyhound pub in Besselsleigh with a safe footpath by the road south to the church and entry from churchyard. 

WhatThreeWords location for the turning is followers.quaking.thumb