December 2004
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BAHS Newsletter Number 18 December 2004 A service of Thanksgiving was led by the Who do they think they are? Bishop of Norwich, Rt. Revd Graeme James in All Saints, Morston when a memorial plaque was owditch family members from all over the unveiled and dedicated, floral tributes laid and the world recently held their first family reunion family tree exhibited. Then on the last morning, Pwhen they gathered together in Morston for members of the BAHS guided the family around three days as guests of The Friends of Morston Wiveton where Thomas Powditch of Outwell and Church. Outings to various places of interest fol- Wiveton had lived sometime before 1519, making lowed by luncheons and dinners allowed members this the earliest known Powditch family on this to find out more about each other and their ances- part of the coast. To find out more, click on: tors who had lived in these North Norfolk villages. www.powditch.plus.com An Embarrassment of Finds Wrecks and Rescues Report on a BAHS lecture by Dr Andrew Rogerson Report on a BAHS lecture by Charles Lewis (26 x 04) (30 x1 04) Dr Rogerson started his talk with some background The Norfolk coasts have for centuries been one of to the Museums Service and a tribute to the late Mr the busiest shipping routes around Britain, but Rainbird Clarke, who started a card index of Norfolk there are few safe havens. Even the relatively secure archaeological finds and sites in the 1930s and built Yarmouth Roads can only be reached via gaps in it up when he joined the Castle Museum after the parallel and hazardous sandbanks. war. Because of his pioneering work, and because Amongst the wrecks described by Dr Lewis was successors like Dr Rogerson have built contacts with that of the “Invincible” in 1801. Sailing late to join the metal-detecting fraternity, of which some archae- Nelson’s fleet before the Battle of Copenhagen, the ologists would not approve, and because it is largely ship was wrecked off Norfolk’s east coast with the an arable county, Norfolk has more records from loss of 400 men. On another occasion, in 1854, no more sites than any other part of the country. less than 50 ships were wrecked in a single violent Maps of various types of finds; palaeolithic hand storm. Tragedies such as these had earlier led to axes, bronze age axeheads, Roman coins etc were efforts to mitigate the off shore hazards. The intro- shown and Dr Rogerson explained the reason for the duction of beacons (open fires contained in braziers) title of his talk. In spite of, or even because of, this in church towers and other tall buildings around the wealth of records several of the maps revealed more coast was the first step. Then followed towers built for about the locations of 20th century searches than the sole purpose of providing beacons to act as sea about sites of historic or prehistoric activity. In an marks; Elizabeth I granted an exclusive licence to attempt to make the records and maps more useful Trinity House to construct and operate them. This efforts are now being made to record sites where was not the end of private initiative, however. Trinity searches failed to produce finds. It was pointed out House often sub-contracted its responsibilities and that the majority of interesting large objects had successive sovereigns, including Elizabeth herself, come to light through agricultural working rather sometimes overrode the Trinity House monopoly. than metal-detecting. Four lighthouses in Norfolk (Hunstanton, Cromer, The slides showed the range of finds recorded: a Winterton and Happisburgh) and their development group of unused bronze axe heads dug up by pigs at were described by Dr Lewis. The rationalisation of Rudham, coins, brooches, pins, harness-fittings onshore lights was followed in the 18th century by from Iron age, Roman, Saxon, Viking and medieval the development of floating beacons – the lightships, periods, an early 11th century folded lead scroll from all now replaced by automatic light-buoys. St Benet’s covered in runes that have defied inter- Measures to mitigate navigational hazards were pretation and may be in code, part of a lovely Limoge accompanied by steps to help mariners and ship enamel crucifix figure dating from the 13th or 14th owners when disaster occurred. The initial motive century – too many to list or remember. Norfolk has was the prospect of salvage and led to the develop- now it seems produced a third gold brachteate (see ment of “beach companies” by longshoremen band- BAHS Newsletter 17 and The Glaven Historian No.7). ing together for the purpose. The Norfolk beach com- Most remarkable perhaps of all the finds illus- panies used their distinctive fast yawls, but these trated was a double-sided gold seal matrix which were gradually replaced by purpose built lifeboats. would have been attached to a ring. It is of late 7th Local committees raised subscriptions for lifeboats to century Meovingian origin and is of such high quali- serve particular localities and in 1823 the Norfolk ty and with an inscription of such intimate detail Association for Saving the Lives of Shipwrecked that it is considered likely that it belonged to the wife Mariners was formed. In 1858 the RNLI took over of the Merovingian king Clovis. She was English and country wide responsibility – but Norfolk nevertheless after his early death reigned as regent before retiring retained two private boats (Sheringham and to a convent near Paris. She was highly revered and Gorleston) for many years. subsequently canonised. Her ring, if it is indeed 19th and 20th changes to ships, navigational aids hers, was found at Postwick and will, it is hoped, and to lifeboats themselves led to the RNLI and become part of the Norwich Museum collection. Trinity House reducing services across the country. The Caister lifeboat was withdrawn in 1969 – but it Frank Hawes with additional notes was reintroduced by a voluntary association in 1973. from Derek Schofield. Similarly Trinity House wished to close the Happisburgh light in 1988 but local fishermen obtained the right to operate it. So Norfolk has, uniquely, both a lifeboat and a lighthouse in private operation. Dr Lewis rounded off his talk by describing some of the apparatus developed by George Manby, Editor: Richard Kelham born in Denver in 1765. Amongst his inventions were phone/fax: 01263 740186 a means of getting lines aboard stricken vessels by e-mail: [email protected] gunshot and the development of the breeches buoy – leading to the rescue of many mariners. DS All text © BAHS and Contributors 2004 Committee Report hile AGM business may been bundled unceremoniously out of the way in record Wtime, the subsequent committee meeting on 22 September took considerably longer. Now the dust has settled the new look committee is as follows: Chair: Richard Kelham Secretary Frank Hawes Minutes Sec Brenda and Geoff Worton Memb Sec Anne Maw Treasurer Anne Maw Print of the brig Rokeby, part of a limited edition of Events Org Pam Peake 250, high quality colour lithography, available from NL Editor Richard Kelham the History Centre. Members Helen Brandt Derek Schofield Monica White The Rokeby Peter Wordingham he History Centre has just a few prints Pam Peake has decided to stand down both as co- from a limited edition of a high quality Chair and as Events Organiser from the end of the T(lithographic) reproduction of the brig the current season (that is July 2005) so we urgently Rokeby for sale at the unbelievable price of £28. need a replacement for this vital job – Events The original painting of the brig was for the Organiser that is, Chairs are two a penny. Without master of the vessel, Captain T. Starling by the a replacement there will be no programme of talks marine artist Francoise Carlebur Junior of next year. Understudies also welcome. Utrecht in 1856. She was built in Hull, 1844 for Peter Wordingham will be organising the next Winter and Company and later purchased by the UEA course and Monica White will be the Course Temples of Blakeney from where she continued Secretary – assuming a suitable course can be to trade between East Coast ports and the conti- found: after 12 years we are beginning to run out nent, sailing under the Blakeney born master, of subjects – and lecturers. If any members have Thomas Starling. suggestions for suitable subject areas let Peter This limited edition of 250 was made prima- know and he will try to negotiate with Adam rily for distribution around the family and for Longcroft (UEA Extra-Mural boss) to see if it is their enjoyment, so this offer is an unusual possible. opportunity for BAHS members. Don’t miss out! Frank Hawes has volunteered to take on the Visit the History Centre to view our copy, which main Sectretarial duties, leaving Anne as has been kindly framed for us by a local donor Membership Secretary and Treasurer. He will also and Picturecraft of Holt, or call 01263 740388 be keeping our page on the Glaven Valley website for more details. up to date. Speaking of the website, has any mem- ber ever managed to find our entry? Perhaps we should have our own website? Any volunteer out there speak Html? NRO Visit There is also a vacancy on the Editorial Board for the Glaven Historian so if anyone with suitable ollowing the very successful lecture given by experience feels like putting that experience to use Dr John Alban (yes, his foot is much better, for the BAHS please contact Frank or yours truly.