Today, Leslie Heritage Group is announcing a £31,314 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to undertake further archaeological investigation of the historic Greenside area of Leslie and work with the community to discover and maintain more of the heritage of the town currently hidden beneath our feet.

Christ Kirk on the Green has been a focal point for Leslie folk for centuries.  It was the site of the church, markets and fairs, homes during the war, the gallows for hangings ... the list is endless.  This is a hugely exciting project for the whole community and without this funding from National Lottery players and the Heritage Fund it’s stories would remain unheard.

Working alongside a team of archaeologists, we are recruiting enthusiastic local volunteers all eager to get involved.  Local school children are also very excited to be getting their hands dirty as archaeologists for the day.

The dig is taking place at Christ Kirk on the Green over 5 days, starting on Thursday 10th September.  Leslie Heritage Group are working with Addyman Archaeology on this project and local volunteers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to become involved.  The weekend coincides with Fife Doors Open 2026, and visitors are invited to come along to see how we are doing.

In the long term it is hoped that relevant artefacts found will be available for the wider community to view and become more aware of Leslie’s rich heritage and history.  Anyone in the Leslie area who would like to volunteer to join the project is invited to email: lhgvolunteers@gmail.com for further information

Bill Fiet, Chairman of Leslie Heritage Group said: “We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we are able to continue our exploration into the past and raise awareness of the history of the Green.”

Notes to editors

About Leslie Heritage Group

Leslie Heritage Group aim to encourage an interest in the history and cultural heritage of Leslie.  There is so much worthy of preservation and conservation in the area, giving the opportunity to engage with the community on projects both large and small.

 We want to promote the history and heritage of Leslie and the surrounding area as a source of pride to address issues facing the area.  We actively encourage volunteers of all ages to become involved in our projects.   We strongly believe that the wealth of knowledge held by long time residents of Leslie should be documented and maintained for future generations

About Addyman Archeaology

Addyman Archaeology, a division of Simpson & Brown, are a leading archaeological firm specialising in historic buildings and places in the UK and further afield.  With our Heritage Consultancy and Conservation-accredited Architecture colleagues, we help national and local charities, trusts, and developers to get the best out of their heritage, including fulfilling national planning requirements during development.  Addyman Archaeology particularly values community engagement and public benefit as an integral part of doing archaeology.  For more information visit https://www.simpsonandbrown.co.uk/archaeology

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund 

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

By 2033 we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.

heritagefund.org.uk

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund

Further information

For further information, images and interviews please contact Siân Bundy at Leslie Heritage Group, leslieheritagegroup@gmail.com