Dig to explore village's Disney and medieval links

Walt Disney visited Norton Disney in 1949 to trace his family history

A three-day dig will explore a Lincolnshire village's medieval past and its links with the Disney family.

Time Team Digital will carry out an excavation later this year.

The team of archaeologists will try to find one of the ancestral homes of the Disney family, who are believed to have left France and settled in the area following the Norman Conquest in the 11th Century.

Richard Parker, of Norton Disney History and Archaelogy Group (NDHAG), said it was hoped the dig would locate the remains of the property, which was knocked down in the 1600s, and discover how it was linked to the medieval period and development of the village.

The dig will be a mix of geophysical surveys and digging in the ground to see what the group can find

Historians believe the Disney family - originally known as De Isney, then both d'Isigny and D'Iseny - are the ancestors of American animator Walt Disney, who visited the village in 1949 to trace his roots.

The dig will delve into the family's heritage when it takes place between 4 and 6 October.

About 15 residents are also allowing them to dig holes in their gardens to see what remains of the medieval village.

Historians believe Walt Disney descends from a French family that settled in the area in the 11th Century

NDHAG will be joined by 30 volunteers from Wings To The Past with Professor Carenza Lewis from the University of Lincoln leading on the dig.

Time Team Digital, an offshoot of the long-running Channel 4 history series, plans to release an episode on its YouTube channel next year.

Norton Disney hit headlines in summer 2023 when archaeologists discovered a dodecahedron that baffled experts and featured in an episode of Digging for Britain.

Referencing the October dig, Mr Parker said: It's going to put Norton Disney under the spotlight again. It's a wonderful opportunity to show off Lincolnshire's medieval heritage."

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