A BOOK and film launch has marked the end of a 'thrilling' archaeological research project in Fewston.

Ninety people attended the finale event for the Washburn Heritage Centre Assemblage Project at the centre on Wednesday, April 19.

The celebration marked the culmination of years of research which followed the excavation of graves at Fewston Church before the heritage centre was built, in 2010.

Archaeologists and volunteers carried out investigations on all 154 sets of skeletal remains that were moved from the site and, later, reburied.

Last week's event included the unveiling of an illustrated book, The Fewston Assemblage: Churchyard Secrets Revealed, which documents the techniques that were used and the discoveries they yielded.

Attended by some of the descendants of people whose skeletons were examined, the launch also included the first screening of a film about the project and of a linked walks trail.

Deputy Mayor of Harrogate and Chairman of Washburn Parish Council, Councillor Christine Ryder, opened the event.

She said: "Some people might think that all the main visitor attractions are in Harrogate town centre but we know

that the Washburn Valley also has a lot to offer - wonderful walking, beautiful landscapes and the Washburn Heritage Centre, now with this fascinating project about the Fewston Assemblage.

"It seems unique to me and it is certainly a very unusual addition to the list of visitor attractions that the Harrogate district has to offer."

The scheme was primarily funded by £62,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £5,000 from the Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation, and £5,000 from the heritage centre itself.

It was also, crucially, supported by many volunteer hours.

Simon Hill, whose firm Vidar Media was commissioned to produce the book and film, said he had been impressed with the exceptional enthusiasm of those volunteers.

He said: "It is this, perhaps more than any other factor, that has made the Fewston Assemblage such an exciting and thrilling project with which to be associated."

A moving piece of music, The Fifteenth of September - written by volunteer Ken Fackrell for the Service of Commemoration when the Assemblage was reburied last year - was performed at the launch by Fewston Musick.

Churchyard Secrets Revealed is on sale now at the heritage centre and costs £4, or £3 for Washburn Society members.

Leaflets for the Fewston Assemblage Trail are also available for £1, while the film is being uploaded to uploaded to washburnvalley.org .

The Fewston Assemblage has a permanent exhibition in the centre's foyer and all of the research findings are available in the venue's archive.