A GROUP which researches the heritage of two of Ryedale's most remote and beautiful villages has received a £25,000 grant from the Local Heritage Initiative.

The Lockton and Levisham Heritage Group is using some of the grant to conduct an archeological project around St Mary's Church over a six-month period, with the aim of identifying whether local legend about there once being a village in the valley could be true.

The group is also going to create some circular walks around the area, complete with leaflets, for people to view both the findings of the archaeology project and pointing out other archaeological and natural history features.

Volunteers will also lead guided walks, and an education resource will be set up in Levisham village hall for schools, colleges and other interested groups to research local history and the local environment.

The Lockton and Levisham Heritage Group was formed in May 2003 with the aim of making the wealth of local history more readily available to villagers and visitors alike.

"We're very excited about this funding, and we are also very keen to encourage as many people as possible to join in the work," said secretary Anne Deebank.

"We have now received half of the grant and are busy spending it," she said.

The group's first purchase was computer equipment, including a scanner and digital projector, which have already been used at its open meetings and its archaeology days, held on Mondays from 10am.

Around 30 people attended the group's last open meeting, and some session have been held with archaeologist Kevin Cale.

Anne describes the sessions: "We usually do field work down in the valley in the morning, and spend the afternoon for recording in the village hall. On our first expedition, we spent some time looking at the remains of the building that housed the water wheel and pump, by Levisham Beck, which was installed to bring water from Rowl Spring up to Levisham.

"Later, we looked at pictures showing this building and others with the standpipes in the village street, and assembled some information about the installation and working of the ram. The next week, we scrambled around the spring, then followed the stream down to the church field, observing with interest how its course appeared to have been changed at some period.

"As we walked over the field, Kevin became more and more excited about the level areas unnoticed by the casual observer, but plain to us when Kevin paced them out before our eyes. Perhaps further investigations will throw more light on the buildings that maybe once stood there."

The project also includes plans for two 'then and now' booklets of photographs, one for each village, showing how they have changed over the years. The same photographs and additional information will be put on a website and a CD.

Four interpretation boards giving information on the surrounding area will also be produced.

The Local Heritage Initiative is a partnership between the Heritage Lottery Fund, Nationwide Building Society and Countryside Agency.

Anne said: "We are really grateful to the LHI Partnership of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Nationwide Building Society and the Countryside Agency for the funding. We have also received a grant of just over £2000 from Yorventure to upgrade the furniture in Levisham Village Hall, which will not only benefit people coming to use the education resource, but also the villagers themselves."

For more information on the projects, please call either Anne Deebank (01751) 460274, Betty Halse (01751) 460356, Keith Ware (01751) 474895 or David Barnett (01751) 460405.

Updated: 14:29 Wednesday, June 09, 2004