Hello You 121: 'Then along comes Offa ...'

‘Offa’s Dyke ran through my grandfather’s pub’s beer garden’

Offa’s Dyke is hugely significant … and, for that matter, huge.

But how much do we in Shropshire know or understand about it? Or about the nature of the border between us and our neighbours to the west?

‘There’s a fundamental human curiosity about where we’re from’

This is something that’s occupied landscape archaeologist Mel Roxby-Mackey for many years. She’s been fascinated by Offa’s earthwork since, as a child, discovering it passes through the beer garden of the pub her grandfather used to run.

‘The archaeology of this part of the country is very, very special’

Mel and her husband and fellow archaeologist Ian Mackey are trustees of the Offa’s Dyke Association, which operates a rather lovely heritage centre in Knighton, Powys. They want to make us more aware of the history and significance of Offa’s Dyke and the border. I met them - and Hamish the Archaeodog! - at the Offa’s Dyke Centre, overlooking the earthwork itself, for this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast.

Also in this episode:

Why do so many people say they always wanted to be an archaeologist? Why didn’t they follow their dreams?

I’ve had a remarkable response to the Hello You episode about Shrewsbury Prison, Hello You 120: Discontent in Cell Block Number 9. Thank you to everyone who’s been in touch.

And this would be a very good time to remind you of the confidential Hello You Tip Line!

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