Newsletter Jul 2016
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Derbyshire Archaeological Society Newsletter # 82 (Jul 2016) 1 DERBYSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Issue 82 July 2016 Querns at Repton 2016 2 Derbyshire Archaeological Society Newsletter # 82 (Jul 2016) DERBYSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2016 - 2017 PRESIDENT The Duke of Devonshire KCVO CBE VICE PRESIDENTS MR. J. R. MARJORAM, DR. P. STRANGE, MRS J. STEER, DR. D.V. FOWKES Chairman Mrs P. Tinkler, 53 Park Lane, Weston on Trent, of Council Derby, DE72 2BR Tel 01332 706716 Email; [email protected] Hon. Treasurer Mrs J. Heginbotham, 59 Hickton Rd, Swanwick, Alfreton Derby, DE55 1AG e-mail; [email protected] Hon. Secretary Mrs B. A. Foster, 2, The Watermeadows, Swarkestone, Derbyshire, DE73 7FX Tel 01332 704148 e-mail; [email protected] Programme Sec. Mrs M. McGuire, 18 Fairfield Park, Haltwhistle, &Publicity Officer Northumberland. NE49 9HE Tel 01434 322906 e-mail; [email protected] Membership Mr K.A. Reedman, 107, Curzon St, Long Eaton, Secretary Derbyshire, NG10 4FH Tel 0115 9732150 e-mail; [email protected] Hon. Editors Dr. D.V. Fowkes, 11 Sidings Way, Westhouses, (Journal) Alfreton, Derby DE55 5AS Tel 01773 546626 e-mail; [email protected] Miss P. Beswick, 4, Chapel Row, Froggatt, Calver, Hope Valley, S32 3ZA Tel 01433 631256 e-mail; [email protected] Newsletter Editor Mrs B. A. Foster, 2, The Watermeadows, Swarkestone, Derbyshire, DE73 7FX Tel 01332 704148 e-mail; [email protected] Hon Assistant Mr. J.R. Marjoram, Southfield House, Portway, Librarian Coxbench, Derby, DE21 5BE Tel 01332 880600 e-mail; [email protected] Publications Dr. D.V. Fowkes, (address etc above) Derbyshire Archaeological Society Newsletter # 82 (Jul 2016) 3 DERBYSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER 82 JULY 2016 The Cover Story REPTON REVISITED Viking military occupation within the ditched area and a recent GPR survey by a PhD It was 25 years ago that Professor student, Henry Webber had revealed a Martin Biddle completed his extensive number of possible structures thought to excavations at Repton, wherein, among other relate to the monastic complex. So, with a things, he found Viking graves near the view to investigating the Anglo Saxon church, a mound and a charnel house in the monastic settlement and enclosure, a team Vicarage garden which contained the from Bristol University led by Professor miscellaneous bones of at least 264 bodies of Mark Horton and Cat Jarman has been at uncertain origin - and a D shaped ditch work once again in the Vicarage Garden. It is around the church and its surrounds. All thought that the interpretation of the Viking were thought to be associated with the Age charnel and mound should be seen in overwintering of the Great Heathen Army in light of the wider context of the buildings 873/4. connected to the monastic complex. Since then an isotope study of the Discoveries have included what teeth from the charnel house has been appears to be a structured deposit of a large completed by Cat Jarman of Bristol number of broken early medieval quern University. You may remember she gave a stones, likely to be of local types and fascinating lecture to the Society on the provenance. They also uncovered a subject a couple of years ago. The results decorated stone fragment of what appears to have revealed that the bulk of the bodies be an Anglo-Saxon cross, which is likely to could be of Scandinavian origin and date to have been related to the monastic complex. the late 9th century. Four juveniles buried Evidence of the Viking presence in Repton together just outside the mound came from was also discovered. very different origins and are likely to have It is hoped that they can return next been linked with the Viking presence. year, funding (and the Vicar) permitting. I do The last dig was positively funereal in hope so! its findings with little or nothing to suggest Barbara Foster Contents Programme Secretary’s Report ....................... 4 Derbyshire Miscellany .................................... 21 The Library Notes—Help Wanted ............... 4 Membership ..................................................... 22 Archaeological Research Group .................... 5 Pilling Award ................................................... 23 Architectural Section ...................................... 10 Book Reviews .................................................. 23 Local History Section..................................... 14 Small Adverts .................................................. 27 Industrial Archaeology Section .................... 19 Emiac 91 Booking .......................................... 29 Obituary: Michael Mallander ........................ 21 Photographs/maps courtesy of the authors, members, The Ordnance Survey, The Magic Attic Archives or Wikipedia (Under Wikimedia Commons Licence) unless otherwise credited. 4 Derbyshire Archaeological Society Newsletter # 82 (Jul 2016) Programme Secretary for Barbara Hutton and Michael Mallender in Room OL1. However I cannot tell you The opening lecture 8 January 2016 at who is giving the talk on March 3rd as the the University was by Mr Tony Wilmott, from speaker is probably still thinking about what Historic England, on 'Highlights from Recent to say. Excavations at Maryport'. We were not in our Malise McGuire usual surroundings of cosy OL1 but in another ____________________ theatre somewhere round the back and up 3 floors and in spite of the rather chilly Library notes. surroundings it was a very interesting lecture. HELP - Bookseller wanted 26th February was the Tom Larimore Memorial lecture 'Heanor - Then and Now' by It has been the busiest of times and Brian Key, Chair of Heanor & District Local the quietest of times in the Library this last History Society at St Mary's Church Hall, I'm few months. In the last Newsletter I told that it was very well attended and on a appealed for a volunteer who would subject Tom would have enjoyed. March consider taking over the Librarian’s role. I 4th,Professor Julian Richards from University am pleased to say that a member has come of York talked about 'Torksey Lincolnshire - forward, but so far between us. we have recent work in the winter camp of the Viking hardly found time to meet. When we did fix Great Army', a fascinating subject. up a working session and got to the Central The AGM on 29 April was followed by library we found that the cellar level had just Dr Iain Hambling's excellent talk on the long been closed to all. An ‘electrical fault’ so no and eventful history of 'T G Green & Co, lights which would be fixed ‘tomorrow’. Ltd'., a pottery in Church Gresley South But nearly a month later ‘tomorrow’ had not Derbyshire. come. To give them their due that is the The Summer Programme is well first time in 40 years that that has happened. underway – full details on our website and in So there is much to get on with. your programme card. On the better side the number of Winter Programme 2016-17, the DAJs that we loaned recently for scanning opening lecture in OL1 on September 30th for online access have been returned in 2016 will be 'Aethelfrith and the Battle of kind. We have had donations of two items Chester AD616: a battlefield and war-grave relating to Crich (Jackson and Smith), discovered' by Dr David Mason. This lecture Cromford (Uttley) and Derby (Skinner and is rescheduled from March 6th 2015. Rippon) and also the two books reviewed in The Programme talks range from the last Newsletter (thanks reviewer) all of Isotope Analysis; Sir John Chandos; A W N which we are pleased to have. Pugin - A Passion for Gothic; Excavations at Elmton; Excavations at Lenton Priory; and HELP another 2 lectures in Room OL1 - King of Michael Mallendar in his will left the All Balloons - The Adventurous Life of Library all his historical/archaeological James Sadler, the First English Aeronaut. The collection of books with the provision that Christmas Event at St Pauls Church Hall will we could sell any that we did not want to have Bob Neill from Aston on Trent, coming access. We are planning to take 16 items with a load of boxes and a lot of fun! Dr into the Library but there are many more Jenny Alexander on 13 January, 'From that could be sold. We also have a previous Cathedral Workshops to Country House stock of ‘for sale’ items. So we are seeking Building Sites: how did stonemasons cope in help from A MEMBER WHO WOULD the Early-Modern period?' Memorial Lecture LIKE TO ACT AS THE SOCIETY’S Derbyshire Archaeological Society Newsletter # 82 (Jul 2016) 5 BOOKSELLER. It’s a great job! We can reassurance to Joan who was looking a little do a catalogue and so on and we would like anxious. ‘I hope he’ll still let us in!’ she members to have a first chance purchase (at replied. a discount!). So please anyone interested in St. John’s is probably an older doing this job get in touch with Joan D’Arcy foundation than St. Werburgh’s (abbey) or me. (see cover). Thanks. cathedral with which it had vied for status There remains some problems at the over some centuries. It has a history of Central Library so it is best, if members wish changes of status leading to chronic to borrow books, first to contact Joan underfunding, decay and tower collapses. D’Arcy or myself by e-mail, ‘phone or post Its location outside the south east corner of with their request. the Roman legionary fortress walls caused it Ray Marjoram to suffer damage during the siege of 1645-6. ____________________ Nonetheless it is of much interest. Much of the massive Norman nave survives (maybe 11th century but opinions are ARCHAEOLOGICAL divided about almost all dates) and there are RESEARCH GROUP many features and monuments including Anglo-Saxon crosses peculiar to the region. th Chester – 15th August 2015 There is a 13 century painting of St. John the Baptist. The east end is much ruined. After the motorway stop our journey The reputed chapter house (a vaulted became slow, the coach being stuck for miles building c1300 with a central pier) houses a behind a tractor.