Archaeology working on the edge: Rectory Grove, Clapham
Ian Blair
Trial work by the Southwark and Lambeth Archaeological Excavation Committee (SLAEC) at Rectory Grove, Clapham, began in June 1980, and the photos show a youthful Hedley Swain operating a micro-excavator the likes of which I have not seen before, but perhaps it was a much-loved Christmas present?
Heaven only knows how you moved it, with its splayed trestle legs at the front and two wheels at the back, but I guess that the answer was almost certainly ‘very slowly’.
Despite working on the very edge, Hedley survived and later went on to be Head of Early London History and Collections, at the Museum of London (1998-2007), and latterly in September 2020 was appointed first Chief Executive Officer for the new Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust, Brighton & Hove. His responsibilities include overseeing the National Lottery Heritage Fund project to restore the Pavilion Gardens, but it is probably for the best if he leaves his machine in the garage in mothballs, rather than offer to give a hand with the groundworks.
Photos from Derek Seeley
Carefree Hedley Swain and his micro-excavator at Rectory Grove, Clapham in 1980. Spot the potential hazards and health and safety concerns: answers on a postcard to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) marked ‘In my defence, it was 1980!’
Hedley excavating a trench the size of an Olympic swimming pool at Rectory Grove, Clapham
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