CLUES to Hadleigh’s historic past may be unearthed next month in the beer garden of a derelict pub.

Archaeologists are hoping to uncover relics which shed light on the history of the town when they dig at the Crown pub, in London Road.

Experts from Ages Archaeological and Historical Association will be joined by local schoolchildren on the dig, with any items found being analysed at Cambridge University The dig is due to start on September 5, as part of the annual Hadleigh Art Trail.

Terry Barclay, secretary of the Hadleigh Ages group, said: “The Crown garden is one of the only pieces of land in the town centre not covered in concrete.

“With a bit of luck, it might show where the early village of Hadleigh was. We are hoping to find pottery from Saxon and early Norman periods – from before the castle was built.”

Previous digs in Daws Heath and Hadleigh have uncovered Roman pottery.

Mr Barclay said: “With the last dig in Hadleigh, we came across Roman pottery in three different places – the first time it had been found outside the castle area.

“This time, we’re hoping for Saxon pottery. Also, the Crown has been licensed since 1796, so we may find some interesting things to do with the pub’s history.”

Hadleigh Castle is believed to have been built around 1230, but the group hopes to find items dating backas far as 900AD.

Castle Point Council leader Colin Rileywaskeenfor the dig to go ahead before plans to regenerate the town centre are put into action.

He said: “When the project to develop Hadleigh goes ahead, there isarisk somethingcould be dug upwhich could then stall the project, so we thought, ‘let’s get this done now’.”