TheChester Antiquary Newsletter of the Chester Archaeological Society 2006 Issue 2 (Autumn/Winter)

Fieldwalking at Churton

Fieldwalking at Churton (photograph by Phillip Miles)

T the end of May 2006, a small funerary site, round barrows and ring produced a larger quantity of material, A band of Society volunteers ditches. The local metal detectorist club especially industrial waste, and smaller braved the wet and windy conditions has recovered a range of artefacts quantities of flint and ceramics. to undertake two days of fieldwalking associated with the Bronze Age and All the finds are either in the process at Churton, near Farndon, courtesy of Romano-British periods, which tends to of being cleaned or subject to expert landowner Mr Michael Trevor- suggest a multi-period site which may examination, but they already support Barnston. Phillip Miles, the Society’s date from the Neolithic through to the the view that this is a significant ancient Fieldwork Co-ordinator is running a Roman period and beyond. site with multi-period occupation. non-invasive project under the auspices As some of the crops were still in the Further work is envisaged, including of City Archaeologist Mike Morris, and ground, we were only able to walk a more fieldwalking, resistivity surveys to involving volunteers from the Society. narrow strip of the field with the crop locate the crop marks, and the possibility The location was first identified from mark, Field A, but we were able to collect of trial trenches to confirm the existence cropmarks in 1978 by Mr Rhys Williams a large quantity of flint (both worked and nature of the buried structures. This and further aerial photography was and unworked), burnt pottery and will extend over a number of years and carried out by Jill Collens and Rob industrial waste. volunteers from the Society are always Philpott in 1994. The site at Churton is Field B, which is some seven hectares welcome to attend. of considerable age, and may include a in size, was completed on day two. It Phillip Miles

1 The CHESTER ANTIQUARY 2006/2 The Twentieth Legion's other amphitheatre

The activities of the Twentieth Legion in North Wales have been gradually researched over the years, but the archaeological sites associated with them are generally not well presented

HE exception is Caernarvon, alth- junction with the A487, turning left in a pen by the car park is an amphitheatre. T ough there have been major southerly direction, and take the first This was a major fort and a miserable excavations of the forts at Caerhun and left into a narrow lane, which goes under posting and it has been suggested that Bryn y Gefeiliau, Capel Curig. There is an iron railway bridge. In just over a mile the amphitheatre was there to keep up little to show on the ground and the you will come to a car park with their spirits. finds are hidden away. Llandudno information signs about Tomen Y Mur. To carry out this exercise you must Museum has the finds from Caerhun, This is a very bleak and wind-swept have the OS Explorer map OL18 for which can be seen by special place and the going is very boggy. You Harlech, Porthmadog and Bala. Further appointment. The major industrial site need good waterproofs and boots, as help is to be found in Snowdonia from at Prestatyn has been partially some of the most interesting features the Air by Peter Crew and Chris excavated and a bath house preserved are in the wettest places. Musson, which is normally available and vandalised in the middle of a I could suggest that you waited for from The National Park Shop in the housing estate. an opportunity for it to be interpreted Stables at Bettwys y Coed, and also in The other amphitheatre is to be found by one of the archaeologists of the Frances Lynch's Gwynedd: A Guide to at the remote fort of Tomen Y Mur, National Park, but this is the ideal place Ancient and Historic Wales, published which has now become more accessible to practice field archaeology. At first you by CADW. with some interpretation boards and will not see a thing because in front of The practice camps are up to half a marked footpaths. you is a natural landscape untamed by mile away and require some time and To reach the fort go to Bettwys y man, but after careful study you will find effort to identify their banks and ditches. Coed and take the A470 road to some of the features left behind by the Ffestiniog. Follow the A470 through Romans. There is a very flat field ,which Roy Coppack Ffestioniog and Llan Ffestiniog to its was the parade ground, and the sheep

The Claverton Project

O all those who volunteered to Roman civilian settlement and possible family are well documented and make a T take part in this project, we are site of the early medieval battle of fascinating story. pleased to confirm that we plan to start Chester, it appears in the Doomsday Keith Matthews surveyed the area fieldwork in late October. Desktop Book of 1086 as one of the richer in 1999 and provisionally identified a research may start sooner. Cheshire manors, valued at 40 shillings, settlement site from a series of Full details, including dates, will possessing a salthouse in Northwich earthworks. The problem is that these follow after site inspection at the end of worth 12d and two hides (c 240 acres) earthworks lie within the city liberties in August. of arable land. St Mary’s Parish and not in Claverton Thanks to all members who have It also held eight burgesses in township. Is this the lost village of already signed up and for your patience. Chester and four in neighbouring Claverton? If not, what is it? Handbridge. Now, however, it is entirely Our project aims to teach members Phillip Miles unpopulated and the location of any surveying techniques and to apply them Fieldwork co-ordinator population centres it may once have had to better understand the topography of is now lost. During the later medieval Claverton. Over a number of years Claverton deserted period, Claverton became effectively an starting from this autumn we hope to: extension of the Handbridge open field • Plan and examine the earthwork village? system and ridge and furrow is evident features resulting from our own in the fields and in the surrounding landscape survey, and those identified Claverton is the township in which woodland associated with the driveway by Keith Matthews, to establish if it is the site of the Chester Archaeological to Eaton Hall, known as the Duke’s the settlement of Claverton and, if not, Society excavation at Heronbridge is Drive. what it is. located. Claverton lies immediately to The details of how these fields • Locate and examine the ‘Grey the south of the boundary of the city changed hands over time and eventually Ditch’, which is supposed to form part liberties of Chester. An important became the property of the Grosvenor of the boundary of the liberties of

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Chester and the Roman settlement at attractive town is definitely needed to brought back from the Crusades). I Heronbridge. include the museum, for which there was chose to visit the Record Office and • Investigate the location, function not enough time to see. investigate their archaeological and date of Hayward’s Castle, referred Our main visit was to Haddon Hall, collections. Staffordshire is fortunate in to in seventeenth-century sources and owned by Lord Edward Manners, and having been the home of the antiquarian described as a watch tower, built to everyone spent a very happy afternoon banker, William Salt, whose widow defend Chester during the Welsh wars. exploring this well-preserved, fortified, bequeathed his books to the County, A field name on the Claverton boundary medieval stone manor-house with its which has housed them in a handsome has this name. courtyard, long gallery, banqueting hall building adjacent to its record office. It • Do fieldwalking and documentary and ancient fourteenth-century is closed on Saturdays so I was unable research, which might shed light on kitchens, which had huge tree-trunk to go inside. Unlike our County, some of the Handbridge residents and chopping blocks and well-worn timber Staffordshire appears to have solved activities and on the relationship surfaces . The collection of tapestries the problem of providing a proper between Chester, Claverton,Handbridge in the house were still very impressive archaeological library. and Heronbridge over time. despite the destruction of about sixty After a too-short visit to the city we Our survey will be steered and of them in a fire in 1925. drove to the castle, dramatically assisted by a professional surveyor and The chapel is a little gem with high- occupying a hilltop beside the M6. The archaeologist, Margaret Worthington, sided oak pews, wonderfully painted castle has a long, interesting history, who will provide members with training walls, a very special fifteenth-century but what remains are the uninspiring and support. Nottingham alabaster reredos behind the fragments of a botched Victorian Ian Archibald alter and the beautiful and moving restoration. The wooden Visitor Centre marble effigy of the son of the eighth provides an introduction to mediaeval Duke of Rutland, who died at the age of warfare and displays some of the finds. nine. Finally to Hodnet Hall Gardens in The house is on a hill and the restored Shropshire, close to the more famous Excursions terraced gardens are a delight, Hawkstone Follies. Hodnet has sixty beautifully tended and full of roses, acres of lovingly tended lawns, flower Derbyshire clematis, pansies, tulips and many beds, wooded hillsides, and a large lake. herbaceous plants and beautiful well cut The gardens are privately held and are 13 May 2006 lawns, which are a joy to walk round. now open only to parties of over twenty HE society‘s trip to Derbyshire in Many thanks to Prue for such an five, so we were privileged. Tea was T May was very interesting and excellent, well planned and organised served in a timbered hall adorned with enjoyable, despite the unpredictable day. It was hugely enjoyable. many hunting trophies. It was a relaxing and dismal weather. Our coach driver end to a relaxing visit to some unfamiliar was to be commended for his skill in Margaret Parks-Smith places not too far from home. Our thanks backing up a curving drive and through to Prue Wendt who made all the a very narrow gateway for our coffee Stafford arrangements with her usual efficiency. stop just below the Cat and Fiddle. In lieu of the lack of view, the hot coffee, 1 July 2006 Alan Comyns excellent home-made biscuits and warming fire were very welcome. Our first stop was in the small town of The next stop was Arbor Low, Eccleshall, now an elegant backwater probably built around 2500 BC, between but once a stopover on the coaching Ashbourne and Buxton. It is a very well route between Chester and London. Excursions 2007 preserved henge consisting of a circular Coffee was taken in a well-chosen embankment with two entrances coaching inn in the centre of the town. surrounding a stone circle (the stones The church was the seat of the Bishops OME dates to keep free in next have now fallen). Our intrepid leader, of Lichfield for over six hundred years S year’s diary: Prue Wendt, led us to the next field and five of them are buried there. where we climbed up the Gib hill barrow, Thence to Stafford, a county town 26 May – A trip focussed on the wooden not easy to find in the atmospheric low that invites comparison with Chester. churches of South Cheshire. mist. After lunch there was time to visit only 30 June – An outing to North Wales. Bakewell proved to be an excellent a few places, which we chose according More details and an application form choice for lunch. We enjoyed the walk to our tastes. There was a wide choice, will be circulated in the first copy of The over the bridge with views of the weir including the Ancient High House Chester Antiquary next Spring. and river life, a visit to the impressive (re-built in 1595), the Shire Hall Gallery church, dating back to twelfth century, (dating to 1798, which was formerly the Ian Archibald with beautiful views over the roof tops courthouse), and the church of St Chad of Bakewell to the surrounding hills and (which has curious carvings of animal countryside. Another visit to this very heads, reputedly carved by Arab slaves

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• Does archaeology for all have a Forthcoming events future? All these questions will be explored in this major conference, organised by Timber! Wood and walking tour of historic Waterloo at the University of Manchester and the lunch time. Cost, excluding lunch, will City of Manchester, who have together Archaeology in the North be £11 for CBA members and £15 for taken a leading role in developing West non-members. Registration, required by community archaeology. 13 October, with Andy Towle, Gifford The conference will provide an BA North West will be holding its & Partners, 20 Nicholas Street, Chester, opportunity to discuss: C Autumn Meeting on Saturday 21 CH1 2NX. • The social, economic, tourist, October in St John’s Church Hall, educational and regenerative Waterloo, Liverpool at 9:15 pm. The Archaeology for All: The benefits of community subject will be the archaeology of wood archaeology and will include presentations by Jim theory and practice of • How people can get involved in Innes on Long term vegetation change community archaeology their own community projects and human impact on woodland; Ron • The role of the media Cowell on A Neolithic wooden A national conference at the University • How to attract funds trackway at Hightown near Crosby; of Manchester from 3–4 November 2006. • The role of the professional, Mark Adams on A cruck framed • What is Community amateur enthusiast and volunteer building at Bebington; Jim Spriggs on Archaeology? • The future for community Conservation of archaeological timber; • What are the challenges and archaeology? Mark Leah on Waterlogged opportunities? The Conference will be held at the archaeological remains in Cheshire • What makes archaeological Martin Harris Centre for Music and towns; and Steve Allen on Recording projects special and unique to Drama, The University of Manchester, archaeological wood. There will be a their community? from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Go to http:// www.arts.manchester.ac.uk/umfac/ archaeologyforall/ for more information. There will be interactive workshops Society Information for children at the Manchester Museum Contacts on Saturday (10.00 am–12.00 pm and 1.00 pm–3.00 pm). There is no need to book Chairman Dr Ian Archibald, 67 Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7JF. Tel (01244) for the drop-in sessions. 680096. Email [email protected] Vice Chairman Mr Philip Miles, 10 Deansway, Tarvin, CH3 8LX. Tel (01829) 741207. Email [email protected] Honorary Secretary Mr Anthony Holliday, Netherleigh, Eaton Road, Society Dissertation Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7EW. Prize Membership Secretary Mrs Kathryn Miles, 10 Deansway, Tarvin CH3 8LX. T was decided earlier this year to aw- Tel (01829) 741207. Email [email protected] ard a Chester Archaeological Society Honorary Treasurer Mr E S R Warwick, 167 Lache Lane, Chester CH4 7LU. I prize to a selected dissertation from a Tel (01244) 676983. final year student at the University of Honorary Editor Dr Gina Muskett, 22 Ravenswood Road, Heswall, Wirral, Chester. This year the prize was CH61 6UA. Email [email protected] awarded to Gary Crawford Coupe. His Honorary Newsletter Editor Dr Ian Archibald, 67 Handbridge, Chester, CH4 dissertation on Burton Point in the 7JF. Tel (01244) 680096. Email [email protected] Wirral and its possible relationship to Honorary Librarian Dr Derek Nutall MBE, Langdale, Pulford Lane, Dodle- the protection of trade in Cheshire salt stone, CH4 9NN. Tel (01244) 660501. Email [email protected] on the Dee will appear as an article in a Excursions co-ordinator Mrs Prue Wendt, 28 Church Lane, Upton, future volume of the Society's Journal. Chester CH2 1DJ. Tel (01244) 382786 We congratulate Gary on his substantial Fieldwork co-ordinator Mr Phillip Miles (address as for Mrs Kathryn Miles) and informative study. Library The Chester Antiquary is published Members are reminded that they are welcome to come in and browse twice a year, in Spring and Autumn. through the Society’s library at Chester Community History and Heritage. We welcome letters and articles from Members. Contributions for Internet the next issue should be with the newsletter editor, Dr Ian Archibald, http://www.chesterarchaeolsoc.org.uk no later than 28 February 2007.

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