York Osteoarchaeology and York and Durham Universities will use the latest research techniques to unravel a real sense of what life was like in the 19th century in the Washburn Valley.

Local stories will then re-create a full picture of the people who lived, worked, loved and died in the valley, using local memories, family history research and personal memorabilia to bring those stories back to life.

Volunteers will learn new skills by working with archaeologists to understand more about the burials, and will supplement this with wider research. The information will be developed into a permanent exhibition at the Washburn Heritage Centre, a book and heritage walks to help people understand the stories of the village.

Sally Robinson, chair of the Washburn Heritage Centre Management, said: "One of the keys to the success of these projects is to engage the hearts and minds of the community and to give them a sense of ownership of the project."