Manea Colony - Archaeology of Utopia

During September 2016 the Cambridge Archaeological Unit in partnership with Octavia Hill Birthplace House undertook survey and trial excavation of Manea Fen Colony. In this video, Dr Marcus Brittain discusses the colony and presents the findings of the excavations.

Established in 1838, this was a Utopian socialist community inspired by the principles of the Owenite movement, most notably fostering a cooperative ethos.
Documentary sources illustrate that a substantial built environment was constructed by the Colonists, where only a cottage and barn were previously standing. The Colony – named after its founder, William Hodson, as the Hodsonian Community –
was of mixed success and only short duration, disbanding in February 1841, just 25-months beyond its beginnings. Following after this Utopian experiment, the site continued to be occupied until 1961 when the last remaining buildings were demolished and the site returned to arable farmland. The project’s aim was to
characterise the site’s archaeological potential for (i) addressing questions concerning the nature and development of nineteenth century socialism, (ii) mapping the distribution of buildings and other features of the settlement’s original and changing outline plan, and (iii) to determine the local legacy of Utopia.

This film is part of the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership: www.ousewashes.org.uk, and was made possible through a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Produced and directed by Nick Edward: www.nickedwards.tv