HUNTER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER May 2011

Welcome to the spring newsletter of 2011 and a warm welcome to any new members who have recently joined us. I hope you have enjoyed the sunny Easter break.

Our spring talks have been outstanding. Our first main society lecture of the new year was by Clive Waddington entitled ‘Fin Cop – A Hill Fort in Context’; Clive gave us a clear overview of all the work on the site to date, including the discovery of records of a skeleton from a cave at Hob House which is currently being dated. The skeletal evidence from the massive hill fort ditches brings into focus our views of the period around 300BC. Neolithic and Late Bronze Age material from the interior of the fort indicates the length of occupation of this strategic site.

In February Prof. Peter Fawcett introduced ‘A Tale of Two Cities; The inter-war Architecture of and Nottingham’ to a larger than usual audience – he gave us a fascinating account of the design of many familiar and not so well-known public and residential buildings dating to the 1930s.

In March Dr. Andrew Grierson, from the Department of Neuroscience at Sheffield University, gave us a very compelling session on the use of the statistically reliable (if not predictable) mutation of the male Y chromosome to analyse population groups and estimate how long they have been around. Aided by a host of Welshmen anxious to give samples and prove their Celtic, non-English origins, he scrutinised a proposition that the Great Orme copper miners were Romans or their associates. The subject group proved to be of more recent origin and not located in the right area of North Wales but did relate to Eastern Europe. This was a very informative and enjoyable piece of applied science, particularly for the ancestor worshippers among us for whom it was a salutary caveat.

The Field Research Section talks started with a fascinating outline of ‘Broadgates, a Dig in Progress’ put together by Eileen Beech and presented by Martin Waller. This intriguing site continues to challenge the team who are researching the early farmstead and its setting. This talk was followed in February by former SY Council Service archaeologist Peter Ryder talking about ‘Cruck Buildings in South ’ – he surveyed many buildings in his early work on the vernacular architecture of the region and showed many photos of fine examples of local cruck-framed buildings, some of which have now gone. In the final talk of the season, Vicky Crewe, who had recently completed her PhD at Sheffield University, gave us a very interesting and enjoyable account of how the Anglo-Saxons had used prehistoric ring ditches, barrows and circular enclosures for the insertion of their burials and cremations and kept their settlements separate from these sites.

On 30 March the Hunter Society co-sponsored one of the Medieval and Ancient Research Seminars at the HRI, at which Colin Merrony was talking about the and . A large group of Hunter members attended the talk, in which Colin outlined the history of the order (founded in 1121, with the mother house at Newhouse in Lincolnshire) and the range of industrial processes they were involved in, which he believes are not visible in the documentary evidence. The Hunter Society provided the nibbles to go with the wine before the talk and we had a very good time – we hope to do this again.

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The Society Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday 8 March 2011, attended by some 40 members. The meeting agreed the previous year’s minutes, the annual report (included here) and financial accounts for 2010. Pam Staunton stood down as a member of the committee and was given a bunch of flowers and warmly thanked for her many years of hard work and support of the Society. Tim Cockrell came forward to volunteer to be Development Officer and we welcome him to the committee.

ANNUAL REPORT for 2010 presented to the AGM 8 March 2011 Since the last AGM, the Committee met on four occasions in April, September and November 2010 and February 2011, with 8 to 11 members attending (out of 15). Jim Symonds, Frank Robinson and Derwent Levick have decided to stand down from the committee during the year; Frank has been given life membership for his contribution as president of the Society. The Committee continues to monitor events and developments around the region, sharing news from other representatives on other committees; routine business included feedback from the working groups, discussing the Transactions and progress on site monitoring, having oversight of finances and membership and planning the lecture programme.

We have had a very interesting and entertaining series of talks through the season - about the hoards from the Vale of York and Staffordshire, about Thomas Bateman, building conservation, Manor Lodge, about caves and Fin Cop, and even ventured overseas to hear about Egypt. Unfortunately the heavy snow and icy conditions meant that the December talk and social had to be cancelled.

Newsletters were circulated in January, April and August, reflecting on activity and publicizing future events in the Society and in the region. Contributions to the newsletter are always welcomed. These now go out electronically to around 40 members, saving us a considerable amount in postage; between newsletters, news and events are circulated by email on a regular basis. The refurbished and much improved display case in Sheffield Central Library was used again for a display in July 2010. Site monitoring activity has been revived by Liz Hackett after a year’s break. Stands publicizing the Society were staffed at Rotherham Heritage Fair in May, Archaeology Day in November, and Barnsley Heritage Day in January, when we had a joint stand with South Yorkshire Industrial History Society to support Barnsley Museum’s new Experience Barnsley project.

Last June we presented the second Joseph Hunter Prize for Heritage Architecture to a 2nd year architecture student at Sheffield Hallam University, Rory Buckingham, for his design for the restoration of a canal-side warehouse at Whaley Bridge.

Excursions in 2010 were planned and organized mainly by Claire Smyth to whom we are very grateful. Visits were made to Holme Head Wheel in Rivelin in June, Creswell Crags, Manor Lodge and Fin Cop in July, and Brodsworth in August and we are extremely grateful to the archaeologists for the time they put in to giving us excellent guided tours. A working group is being formed to increase experience and capacity so that we can expand into longer weekend trips.

A working group of the committee has been developing plans for the Centenary of the Society in 2012, with events planned throughout the year but focused on a weekend - 11-13 May 2012 - with a Town Hall reception with the Lord Mayor, a day of celebratory talks, dinner in the Cutlers Hall and excursions. Exhibitions are being planned at and in the Sheffield University Library, and the Society is applying for funding to help with these and to pay for restoration of the 1852 Pickersgill portrait of Joseph Hunter.

The Society has also been facilitating a series of meetings to try and publicise and effect support for the Museum to enable it to offer an archaeological service. The meetings were instigated by John Collis following a discussion at the December 2009 committee. Meetings held in March, May and December 2010 were attended by Museum, Council, University and other staff, and are being publicized through a national network of contacts. Pat Wagner is now the chair and they are supported by Ruth Morgan. They will continue as long as is necessary.

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The Excursions Working Group has planned an exciting series of excursions for you this season, which includes walks, coach trips and visits to regional excavations. Please give them all the support you can.

We have already had a very interesting walk in February in the near Midhope, led by Tim Cockrell, who is studying the archaeology of the area for his PhD. We saw cairn fields and a probable ring cairn, as well as standing stones and pine trees eroding out of the peat, all made more visible by a sudden fall of snow the previous day. We ate our lunch in a shooting butt (Broomhead moor is one of the best in the country for grouse shooting) before heading off across the moor to the confluence of the Ewden and Oak Becks to see what is thought to be the ‘Gallows’ stone on which Barbara is leaning.

Claire Smyth led a coach party to Flag Fen and Peterborough on 19 March and writes: On a brilliant spring day we visited Flag Fen Archaeological Park. An excellent guide took us round the site via Bronze and Iron Age roundhouses (complete with Iron Age occupants) and a fascinating museum to the highlight, an in-situ section of the excavated wooden walkway, of a size and design unique in the UK. The viewing building had murals on the walls of the site as it would have been when the 1km long walkway was in use, helping us to visualise its sheer size. The wooden platform that was built half way across is still preserved under an artificial pond but there are no funds to excavate. We finished with an entertaining guided walk round the centre of Peterborough, with stories from Hereward the Wake to the 2nd World War, and the amazing painted ceiling of the cathedral.

North Lees in - walk on 22 May

We have arranged a walk in the North Lees area, led by Phil Sidebottom, on Sunday 22 May. This walk is across a multi-period archaeological landscape between the village of and Stanage Edge. It is about 4km in length and some of it is over moderately rough ground with one fairly steep climb and stepping stones across a brook. 16th-century North Lees Hall, set in beautiful countryside, is said to have inspired Charlotte Bronte to write the novel Jane Eyre. The archaeology on the Estate is wide- ranging, from the prehistoric to the early-industrial period. It includes:

• a Bronze-Age settlement area with ring-cairn, linear banks, hut platform and cairns, • Roman-period terraces and settlement, • a ‘votive’ pin well (access permitting), • a ruined field chapel • the remains of a lead smelting kiln • a lead processing and (later) paper mill.

Please bring a packed lunch, walking shoes and good outdoor clothing. Meet at the Hollin Bank car park (near the mountain rescue post) at SK 238 838 for an 11am start (there is a small charge here for parking). The walk should finish about 4 pm. For those who are unable to make this date, the walk will be repeated on Sunday, July 17th, as part of the CBA Festival of Archaeology 2011 (http://festival.britarch.ac.uk/whatson). Any queries, please feel free to contact Phil at [email protected].

Weekend in York 9-10 July

A two day trip to York by coach is taking place on Saturday 9 July to Sunday 10 July 2011, to visit the latest York Archaeological Trust work at Hungate, DIG and Jorvik, with a tour, reception and medieval meal in the Barley Hall in the evening. Then on Sunday we will visit the newly refurbished Yorkshire Museum to see the Vale of York Hoard which we heard about in a recent lecture, and we have various plans for Sunday afternoon. We have reserved bed and breakfast accommodation at York University (Alcuin College) on the Saturday night.

As soon as the full details and costs are finalized, we will be mailing those who have booked on the trip.

Visit to excavations at Thornton Abbey Tuesday 12 July

Hugh Willmott from Sheffield University is starting a 5 year research project, surveying and excavating within the precinct of Thornton Abbey, near Ulceby in North Lincolnshire. This was founded as an Augustinian priory in 1139 by William Le Gros and over the next two centuries expanded into one of the richest houses in , eventually becoming a mitred abbey in 1518. At the dissolution the monastery passed through various private owners until it was converted by Sir Vincent Skinner into a mansion house and gardens.

We have arranged a visit to the excavations on Tuesday 12 July at 11am, meeting in the Abbey car park. If you have no transport and would like a lift, please ring me on 0114 2882640 and I can either pick up at Pond Hill in Sheffield or arrange something. We can also visit the Abbey and Gatehouse which are open 10am to 5pm daily, and there will be no cost for this if you let me know you are coming by 31 May at the latest – I will then give Hugh the list of names for English Heritage. You are still able to join the visit even if you don’t let me know, but visiting the Abbey will cost you £4.30 or £3.90 concessions.

Gunthwaite Hall Farm Barn Sunday 31 July

On Sunday 31 July we have arranged a visit to this stunning 11 bay barn at Gunthwaite Hall in the company of Stanley Jones who surveyed it some years ago. It was built by Godfrey Bosvile (1520-80), lord of the manors of Gunthwaite and Oxspring, and is part of a complex of listed buildings which includes a hall, stable range and summerhouse. We can also walk to a sulphur spring nearby where local people go on the first Sunday in May each year to drink the water.

The barn is located at SE238066. Please meet at xxam at xxx and we will go together as a group – the barn is privately owned by the two farms on the site and we have special permission to see it. There is parking on either side of the lane beside the farm entrance.

Visit to the excavations at Brodsworth Sunday 21 August

Colin Merrony has again very kindly offered to show us the excavations and work at Brodsworth this summer, meeting at the dig headquarters outside the church and Hall on Sunday 21 August at 10.30am. Please bring a packed lunch to eat at Brodsworth and we hope then to continue to Cusworth Hall. If you have no transport and would like a lift, please ring me on 0114 2882640 and I can either pick up at Pond Hill in Sheffield or arrange something.

We hope also to arrange another visit to excavations at Manor Lodge in late June or early July where Dawn Hadley is carrying out further work – I will circulate the details by email, or ring me if you want to know more.

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Planning for the Hunter Centenary 2012

The Hunter Archaeological Society celebrates its Centenary in 2012 and a series of events to mark this occasion include exhibitions at the Weston Park Museum about the Society, and in Sheffield University Library with life stories of some key figures, as well as poster displays in venues around the region such as the Town Hall, Upper Chapel, Cutlers Hall and regional museums. There will be a special publication of the Transactions featuring the life and work of Joseph Hunter and the life stories of key individuals in the Society and social life of the city.

There will also be a weekend of talks, excursions and celebratory dinner in the Cutlers Hall on 11-13 May 2012. Please keep this weekend free in your diary, and if you would like to get involved in any way with the planning of these events or the research, we would very much welcome more help – please talk to me or Bob Johnston or Pat Wagner. Bill Bevan is helping us to prepare a funding bid to the HLF. We are also restoring a portrait of Joseph Hunter painted in 1852 which once hung in the Cutlers Hall.

Scheduled Ancient Monument Monitoring

Thank you to all members who have volunteered to visit and monitor scheduled sites in South Yorkshire this summer. All the sites monitored by the Society have been covered. We have until the autumn to visit the sites and complete the monitoring sheet. Please return these sheets and the information sheets to Dinah Saich whose address is on the back of the monitoring sheet, or hand them to Liz Hackett at one of the October meetings.

Heritage Gateway

English Heritage has funded South Yorkshire Archaeology Service to join the Heritage Gateway, which has now put the Historic Environment Records (HERs), listed buildings and images, among other things, giving much more effective access to the public. Please see http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/.

CBA News

From Monday 4 April 2011, the National Heritage List for England became available to search on the English Heritage website and through the Heritage Gateway. The List contains records of all nationally designated heritage assets (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, protected wrecks, registered parks, gardens and battlefields).

Museums Sheffield

Over the past year, the Hunter Archaeological Society has been facilitating and supporting meetings between various bodies, such as the University, South Yorkshire Archaeology Service, the Council and Museums Sheffield colleagues. The meetings, chaired by our vice president Pat Wagner, are intended to show the archaeological community’s strength of feeling and support over the current situation the Museum finds itself in, with no archaeological curator and unable to accession any finds or allow access to its stores. This is a nationwide problem and part of the process initiated by John Collis has been to build up a network of interested bodies with whom to share information and find out the extent of the problem. Nationally it is becoming clear that huge amounts of finds from developer-funded excavations have no place to go and it may be time to rethink what is stored and where.

Derbyshire Archaeology Day

This very interesting day was held on Saturday 15 January 2011 in the Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield. The talks included outlines of excavations at Staveley, copper mining at Ecton Hill and Fin Cop, and current knowledge about Derwent Valley Mills Heritage Site, Ticknall Potteries, Swarkestone Hall and .

Steel Henge

Steel Henge, South Yorkshire's newest landmark, is at the centre of Rotherham's £15 million flood alleviation scheme. It is a 30 metre circle of metal plinths and crossbeams, standing within a newly-created nature reserve on the site of the old Templeborough steelworks near Magna, managed by Sheffield Wildlife Trust. The iron ingots were found on-site. Although the structure is called Steel Henge, the rusty metal plinths and crossbeams are actually formed of 60 tonnes of cast iron ingots. For more information, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sheffield/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8835000/88 35559.stm.

Eastern Moors Partnership

Since January the National Trust and RSPB have taken over the management of the Eastern Moors from the Peak District National Park Authority – these include the Moors of , Ramsley, Big Moor, Clod Hall, Jack Flat and Leash Fen. Some of the Society officers have been taking part in the consultation and Stakeholder Forum to ensure that archaeology is not overlooked during the development of the management plans.

So far the Partnership has appointed new staff and tenants, removed old signage, carried out ecological and archaeological surveys and assessed the condition of the visitor infrastructure-gates, tracks etc- to see how much work needs doing. They are holding focus groups initially on signage, the access network and relationships between people and wildlife, and hope that user groups can help with volunteering.

It is planned that the Stakeholder Forum will meet quarterly, be representative of all interests on the Moors – walkers, cyclists and climbers, wildlife, farmers and archaeologists, and will advise initially on the development of the management plan, and then ensure that all user groups are able to contribute their opinions and concerns.

Peak District National Park Management Plan

The National Park is developing a management plan for 2012-17, laying out its aspirations and plans of how they will be achieved. The consultation lasts until Friday 1 July, so do take a look and send them your opinions – at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/npmpconsultation.

Are you willing to receive your newsletter and other Society information by email? This would mean a significant saving for us on printing and postage. If you are, please drop me an email at [email protected] to let me know.

Please let us have any feedback on the talks, the venues or anything else – catch us at a meeting or fill in the on-line survey at www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/hunter/feedback.html.

Your Subs for 2011 are now due...... The current annual subscription from January each year is £15 for an individual and £5 for each additional member at the same address. Please don't forget about Gift Aid - this raises a considerable amount for our funds. If you are unsure if you have already done this, the Treasurer Tony Ball can advise. Please make sure if you pay by standing order that you have amended the amount for 2011.

Tony can be contacted at 75, Banner Cross Road, Sheffield, S11 9HQ tel. (0114) 2361471 [email protected].

Bits & Pieces

Don’t forget it is Environment Weeks in Sheffield from 23 April to 5 June and there are lots of interesting walks and events – look out for the brochure. For example- 11 May 6.30pm ‘A Walk round ’ with Graham Hague, or 6pm the same evening ‘Reading the Landscape in the Porter Valley’ with Peter Kennett, or 25 May 6.30pm ‘A Guided Walk round the Campo Lane area’ with the Victorian Society. There are many more to choose from.

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The Festival of British Archaeology will be on 16 to 31 July 2011. Please see http://festival.britarch.ac.uk/. +++++++++++++++

A talk by Ken Hawley with Mary Walker on Wednesday 25 May 2011 at 1.45-3.30pm is titled Marks and Mark Making. It is priced at £5.50 and includes entrance to Kelham Island Museum, a guided tour of the Hawley Gallery, the talk and an object handling session. Please book through Sue Willey on 0114 2722106. +++++++++++++++

The threat to the Portland Works on Randall Street seems to be receding as planning officers have concluded that its use for housing would be ‘unacceptable’, and are recommending permission to convert to apartments be refused by the Council Planning Board on 3 May. The building, dating to the 1870s, saw the first production of stainless steel and is now home to about 20 small craft businesses. +++++++++++++++

Archaeology in South Yorkshire volume 13 is now available from SYAS – this review of recent archaeological work costs £12.50 from South Yorkshire Archaeology Service, Development Services, Howden House, 1 Union Street, Sheffield S1 2SH - either from First Point reception or by post, by cheque plus £2.20 p&p. There are also flyers at meetings.

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Rotherham Archaeological Society has a new website with lots of information at http://www.rasociety.org.uk/index.html. They are holding a meeting at 7pm on Monday 9 May at the United Reformed Church, Stag Island, Wickersley Road, where Lloyd Powell will be talking about Sheffield Castle. This includes supper and is £7-please book on 01709 378735 or [email protected]. There is also a walk on Saturday 9 July at 11.30am, meeting at the Steel Henge SK420920 (Riverside Way off the A6178 in Rotherham)-please register your interest as above. +++++++++++++++

Bill Bevan is currently the Leverhulme Trust artist in residence at the University, photographing archaeological staff and students as they work. He currently has an exhibition at The Manchester Museum on Oxford Road until 17 July titled ‘Stonehenge: henge diggers’, based on his three seasons photographing the Stonehenge Riverside Project. Please see http://www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/whatson/exhibitions/stonehengehengediggers/ for opening times. +++++++++++++++

Weston Park Museum is holding an Archaeology Curator Day on Tuesday 26 July 1-3pm, when Finds Liaison Officer Amy Downes will be on hand to identify and record any archaeological finds or coins. +++++++++++++++

Excavation of the Roman Baths at Carsulae June 12 – July 23, 2011. This is the sixth season of excavations of the Roman Baths at the ancient city of Carsulae. The Roman city, founded along the via Flaminia in the late third century BCE, is located near the town of San Gemini. The area has been associated with healing waters since pre-Roman times. Field school includes: archaeological excavation, various methods of excavation documentation and handling and processing of artifacts.

Contact: Jane Whitehead, excavation director and professor at Valdosta State University, [email protected] Further information: http://www.valdosta.edu/~jwhitehe/Carsulaeweb/Carsulae_home.htm Conservation of Archaeological Ceramics – Classes and Workshops May 23 – June 18, 2011. The course aims to give basic knowledge and hands-on experience in the field of archaeological ceramics conservation. Through classroom and workshop sessions the participants will be introduced to the following skills: categorizing, organizing and storage of sherds; materials and morphological analysis of diagnostic pottery; graphic and digital documentation of diagnostic pottery; cleaning, reassembly and integration of lacunae of pottery. Some of the work in the workshop will be done using recently excavated materials from the Baths of the ancient Roman town of Carsulae.

Contact: Max Cardillo, San Gemini Preservation Studies, [email protected]. Further information: www.sangeministudies.org

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CBA East Midlands is organizing a visit to Ellys Manor House, Great Ponton near Grantham, on Saturday 9 July 2011 at 11am. The house is a late 15th-early 16th century wool merchant’s manor house in Flemish style, with fine wall paintings. The tour is followed by visits to the garden and church, with tea and cake. Bring your own lunch. Cost is £11.50 for members, £13 for non members. Contact D Frearson, 6 North Luffenham Road, South Luffenham, Rutland LE15 8NP.

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A new book by Ian Rotherham – ‘Yorkshire’s Forgotten Fenlands’ - is available at a special offer price of £9.50 including p&p from Wildtrack Publishing, c/o Venture House, 103 Arundel Street, Sheffield S1 2TN (cheques made payable to Wildtrack Publishing). Or you can order online at www.ukeconet.co.uk. +++++++++++++++

Another Iron Age roundhouse has been built by children at St Wilfrids RC Primary School on Lane, guided by the City Farm heritage officers and Roger Doonan from the University’s Department of Archaeology. The project has involved the children handling artefacts, visiting Wincobank hillfort and collecting local willow. It will be a valuable resource as an outdoor classroom. +++++++++++++++

There is a one day conference taking place at the Centre in the Park, on Saturday 29 October 2011 9.45am to 4.30pm, entitled Back from the Edge, the fall and rise of Yorkshire’s Wildlife. This is being jointly run by South Yorkshire ECONET and PLACE. It will look at changes over the last 50 years and includes talks on fenland, woodland, wildlife, fish, flowers and lepidoptera. There is space for displays if you are interested. The fee is £15- 45 depending on your circumstances. I have some booking forms or visit www.ukeconet.co.uk to book online. +++++++++++++++

The next Sheffield Community Heritage Forum will take place on Thursday 26 May 2011, hosted by Green Estate at the Discovery Centre. The programme for the day looks very interesting and includes a Manor Lodge tour; if you would like a slot to talk about your project or any local issues, or if you would like to suggest speakers or topics, please let the Forum know at [email protected].

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On 24 September 2011 at 9.30am-4.30pm, the South Pennine History Group are hosting South Pennine Landscapes in Transition 1700-1914, a day school on enclosure in the South Pennines with six speakers on various topics, being held at the Methodist Church, Hall Bank Lane, Scout Road, Mytholmroyd, near Hebden Bridge HX7 5DQ. Contact details: Rachel Smith, Bramble Dene, Moss Lane, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7DS. Email [email protected]. Cost: £18 including lunch and refreshments.

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Ryedale Folk Museum, based in Hutton-Le-Hole is holding a one day course on Flint Knapping on 24 July 2011, 10am to 4.30pm. This course is a unique opportunity to be taught the specialist skill by expert Karl Lee. The cost is £50. Further enquiries from Emma McKenzie, Learning Programme Officer, Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton-le-Hole, York YO62 6UA, 01751 417367. +++++++++++++++

Sheffield's Manor Lodge Discovery Centre is open to visitors, with its cafe and interactive displays - for more details see http://www.manorlodge.org.uk/ or call 0114 267 7637. Events this summer include: Sunday 19 June, 11am to 3pm – Big Dig Open Day Sunday 7 August, 11am to 4pm – Manor Lodge Open Day.

The Programme of Talks held in the Discovery Centre include: Monday 12 Sept – Recent Developments in the Industrial Archaeology of Sheffield - Richard Jackson & Mike McCoy Monday 10 Oct – Arbella Stuart-the Queen that never was – David Templeman Monday 14 Nov – The Archaeology of the Peak District – Clive Hart

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Work has started on the restoration of the walls of the 200 year old walled garden at Wortley Hall, which is now a productive organic garden managed by Heeley City Farm. If you want to help, and learn new skills, volunteer days are Tuesdays and Thursdays 10.30am to 4pm throughout the summer. Contact Jo Townshend on 0114 2580482 or [email protected].

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On 4-5 June 2011, the Historical Metallurgy Society is holding its spring meeting at the Helmsley Arts Centre, exploring the relationship between metals, religion and status. Please contact [email protected].

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Don’t forget Heritage Open Days 2011 will be 8-11 September – you can find out what is open from mid July at http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/.

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The Hall Farm Heritage Project is an HLF partnership project with ARS Ltd – it will comprise training and participation in archival research, building recording, geophysical survey, fieldwalking and excavation. Local schools, community groups, volunteers and visitors are being invited to take part. The results will be used to develop a heritage trail. ARS Ltd will also be leading walks and talks about the heritage of through the life of the project and these will be advertised at http://www.archaeologicalresearchservices.com/projects/whirlow.html. If you would like to take part or receive more information, please contact Jessika Sheppy by email or phone 01629 814540. +++++++++++++++

Compiled by Ruth Morgan, Secretary (0114) 288 2640