A FAMILY park looks more like an episode of Time Team this week as archaeology students explore its hidden history.

A field in Lydiard Park, which is usually packed with families enjoying picnics and children playing games, has been selected for the archaeological dig by students from Cranfield University’s Forensic Institute, as well as students from Swindon College and volunteers.

The group of 30 people are looking for evidence of the military camp that was established in the park during the Second World War and, despite being only half way through, have already unearthed more than they expected.

Andrew Shortland, reader of forensic archaeomaterials, said: “We were worried we wouldn’t find anything but we have ended up with quite a lot more than we expected.

“We’ve found a range of interesting things – most of it is from the 1950s and includes lots of children’s toys, like a boy’s cap pistol, parts of a doll and general refuse from living.”

In 1941, Lydiard Park was requisitioned for the war effort, and used for Home Guard training.

A military camp was established in the grounds to accommodate American Troops as part of Operation Bolero, and between May 1944 and March 1945 was turned into the 302nd Station Hospital to take casualties from D-Day.

Following this it became a prisoner of war hospital, and eventually a POW internment camp.

The camp occupied almost 30 hectares of the park and comprised a mixture of tents, Nissen huts as well as concrete and brick buildings.

The park was granted to Swindon Corporation in 1948 as the last of the POWs were repatriated.

The accommodation space of the camp was quickly adapted for use as emergency housing to answer an acute shortage of housing in the area.

Originally planned to have a 10-year life span, Lydiard Park Estate was finally demolished in 1961 following the completion of the Penhill estate.

In February, Lydiard Park teamed up with staff at Cranfield University’s Shrivenham campus to investigate the historical remains.

Andrew said: “We think we have come across part of a Nissen hut and we have two pipes, possible sewage pipes, but it is all very shallow, the natural ground is only about 20cms deep which makes it a lot more difficult because we have less than a foot of archaeology here, but it is surprising how much we have found.

“While it looks like there is nothing here, there is reason to believe that the whole area is like this – the ground isn’t completely flat and that is likely to be the rubble and parts of the old camp, none of it is natural.”

The excavations will continue until Friday.

For more information, call Lydiard Park on 01793 770401.