Council for British Archaeology North-West Regional Group News NW Autumn 2013

CBA North West Autumn Conference Archaeology and the Council for British conference on Industrial Archaeology Archaeology set up a network of regional was held at Wilmslow in the autumn The CBA North West 2013 Autumn meeting of 2012 and the Panel was formally will be held on Saturday 9th November at industrial archaeology panels across Britain. The membership of these new recognised as part of the group at the Waddington, Lancashire. The meeting is 2013 CBA NW AGM. entitled ‘The Vernacular Architecture of bodies was voluntary and designed to include both professional and voluntary Buildings’ and will include a guided walk. In the next twelve months the Panel will Details of the programme and further archaeologists, museum specialists, and business people. At the time it was felt that be supporting the Manchester Regional information, including a registration form, Industry Archaeology’s conference on are available at: such a broad cross-section would allow the panels to address the twin issues of ‘Re-capturing the Past of Salford Quays’, http://www.archaeologyuk.org/cbanw/ to be held at Ordsall Hall on Friday 18th CBANW_meetings_intro.html . preservation and record. Over the years industrial archaeology has developed October (see the MRIAS website for The Merseyside Historic Environment its own broader research priorities, and details – www.mrias.co.uk ) and will be Record (HER) and Archaeology on archaeological sites from the period of helping run the Association for Industrial Merseyside the Industrial Revolution, however that is Archaeology’s annual conference in September 2014. This will be held at Since the last Newsletter further defined, are now recognised as forming Chester University from the 5th to 10th discussions between the local authorities, an important part of the nations’ historic October and will look at that county’s IA. English Heritage and National Museums environment, with several such as New If you would like to get involved with Liverpool have taken place regarding the Lanark, the Pontcysyllte Viaduct, and the Panel (we are currently looking for a future provision of a Merseyside HER. Saltaire, now UNESCO World Heritage meetings and minutes secretary) please www.britarch.ac.uk/cbanw It is believed that a resolution has now Sites. email the current Chair, Mike Nevell – been found and that there will be a formal [email protected] announcement shortly. This is good news The Panel meets three times a year and following two and a half years of uncertainty. publishes an occasional e-newsletter Mike Nevell However, it is still unclear what processes (Industrial Archaeology North West). the local authorities have implemented The current membership of the North ’Life and Death - Stories of Norton to take on the planning issues formerly West Panel includes professional Priory’. dealt with by Merseyside Archaeological archaeologists, museum experts, and Advisory Service particularly around the volunteers from across the region with A conference to be held on Saturday policies outlined in the National Planning interests ranging from air transport and 26th October at Merseyside Maritime Policy Framework (NPPF). It is hoped that boat construction, through railways, salt Museum, Liverpool. Full details of this we shall have further detailed information production, and steam engines, to water event are available on Norton Priory’s to pass on in the next Newsletter. supply, windmills, and warehouses. The Panel acts as a forum for exchanging news web-site. Tickets costing £35 (£25 concessions) each, including a buffet The CBA North West Industrial and best practice, for debating and acting lunch and refreshments, can be obtained Archaeology Panel upon current issues and threats within industrial archaeology and heritage, from the reception desk at Norton Priory or visit: www.nortonpriory.org or At the last AGM, in the spring, the North and as a promoter of further study into telephone 01928 569895. West Industrial Archaeology Panel became the subject through the sponsorship of formally part of CBA North West. But what conferences and publications. Digging Greater Manchester in 2013 is the Panel, what does it do, and why has it become part of CBA North West? It was felt by both the Panel and the CBA North West Committee that these The Centre for Applied Archaeology at the University of Salford has been The origins of the Panel lie in the late objectives could be best met through fully engaged with their community 1970s when the Association for Industrial formally linking the Panel with the regional group. With that in mind a joint archaeology projects during 2013. Our

Council for British Archaeology North-West Regional Group. Registered Charity No 1081620. E-mail: [email protected] 1 | CBA News NW Autumn 2013 long-term project, Dig Greater Manchester Balderstone Park, Rochdale (DGM), continues and this year we have completed dig numbers five, six and seven: Amidst the showers and some long- These were at Moss Bank Park in Halliwell awaited summer weather (last seen in in Bolton, Balderstone Park in Rochdale, and 2011), around 300 school children and Barracks Park in Hulme, Manchester. With more than 60 adult volunteers helped another one planned for this year in early uncover the foundations of the 18th and October at Buile Hill Park in Salford that 19th century Balderstone Hall. The hall, leaves us with the remaining three boroughs in the hilly land south of Rochdale, has of Tameside, Trafford and Blackburn with medieval origins and was occupied by the Darwen for 2014. Holt family in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1852 it was bought by Joshua Radcliffe, Moss Bank Park, Bolton a local mill owner, who demolished the Cobble-set street with houses leading old hall and built a grand classical-style directly off it (Barracks Park) Although there is possible medieval evidence double-depth, two storey, central-staircase for the area, the site we were looking at property, reminiscent of many of the that were situated just on the outside of the belongs to the period at the end of the 18th fashionable villa residences of the time. barrack’s perimeter wall that were almost century when a bleaching family called In the 20th century it was bought by the intact below ground, with a perfect cobble- the Ainsworths obtained the land when local council and used as a library until its set road way between. they extended their bleaching operations. demolition. When Peter Ainsworth died in 1780 he was An unusual but none the less exciting find succeeded by his son, also named Peter, who The excavations indicated that the 1852 was a large number of one ounce Bovril built a house called Moss Bank House in hall had involved the demolition of much bottles that could have been part of the 1786. It was this building, or its remains, that of the older buildings, although some 18th soldier’s daily rations, a large percentage we were looking to expose in March. century fabric survived to the rear, north being found in the canteen area of the of the site, including a circular well. Once barracks. Bovril was invented for the The dig was very successful with all available more, despite the documentary references, French army of the late 19th century as they places filled by the adult volunteers along this was a site which failed to produce were extremely short of food supplies as a with 10 schools who spent half a day on site. any medieval archaeology. The earliest result of the war with Prussia. Obviously The below-ground remains were in good material appears to be some of the large the British Army decided that it was a good condition and we were able to identify the number of clay pipes that were recovered, thing to issue to their soldiers as well. foundations of an octagonal bay along with with several forms suggesting an early the basement/cellars of two adjacent bays 18th century date. The rear cellared range A great deal of interest was shown in the of the house. There is still a lot more to be appeared to be the service area of the hall, investigation with two articles on BBC uncovered including the two-storey servants with several large fireplaces, and plenty of TV’s Look North West programme and in building. This lies underneath the tarmac of pottery, mostly 19th and early 20th century the Manchester Evening News local paper. a car park, whilst the front of the house lies stoneware and cream-ware storage jars, under a grassed area. jugs, and plates. Buile Hill Park, Salford

Sadly, the weather was against us with below Barracks Park, Manchester The last DGM event of the year will be at freezing temperatures on most days and six Buile Hill Park in Salford between 30th inches of snow on the final Thursday, Friday, This was an exciting evaluation for the September and 12th October. This dig is and the Saturday open day at the end of the Dig Greater Manchester team as well as fully booked now, but please come along dig. Even so we had no volunteer cancellations the volunteers, as it was the site of the to the open day on the 12th October to see and still had 70 visitors on the open day. cavalry barracks from which the 15th for yourselves what we have uncovered. We Hussars sallied out to assist in dispersing will be looking to rediscover the mid-19th the crowds at Peter’s Field in Manchester century hall known as Hart Hill which was (Peterloo Massacre) in September 1819. built directly on top of an 18th century hall, that in turn replaced a possible medieval We were limited to digging along the structure. An update on the progress of sidelines of the football pitch (under which DGM will be given at this year’s Dig the original officers’ quarters and other Manchester Archaeology Day on Saturday buildings had been buried in 1915 and 30th November which will be held in the which we were not allowed to dig up). We Old Fire Station Building on the Salford did find several structures which we were University campus. For more information able to identify from contemporary plans see the blog at: including the riding school, sergeant’s http://diggreatermanchester.wordpress.com offices, canteen and utility store. We were Basement of Moss Bank House showing late also able to uncover a row of workers Brian Grimsditch 19th C replacement fireplace housing (two-up two-down properties)

2 | CBA News NW Autumn 2013 Mersey and Dee Young Archaeologists Club

Here at the Mersey and Dee branch of YAC we had a very busy archaeology-filled summer. We had the opportunity to work on two Merseyside Archaeological Society and National Museums Liverpool fieldwork projects-the All Saint’s Grave Recording Survey and the Rainford’s Roots Community Archaeology project. We spent a day with each project learning archaeological skills and having fun!

All Saint’s Grave Recording Survey is an ongoing project for the Merseyside Archaeological Society (MAS) and aims to record all the grave markers in the graveyard of All Saint’s Church in Childwall, Liverpool. So far MAS volunteers have recorded over 1000 graves. The Mersey and Dee branch of YAC went along in July to help MAS record The 1916 guide book plan. The railway embankment is now the Yeadon Way road. The graves and to learn more about the methods trenches are largely unaffected by the park, apart from Battalion Headquarters, which involved. has been damaged by a playground. fragments. It seemed like every time we put Following the departure of the troops At the start of the day we took a tour of the our trowels to the ground another fantastic who had constructed them, Third Line All Saint’s Church with a local historian object popped up! (i.e. Reserve) Battalions of the 55th and discovered the church has a rich and (West Lancashire) Division, the Watson gruesome history! YAC members did some We were trained by archaeologists from Road trenches – reported at the time to be research into various architectural features in National Museums Liverpool and we ‘the best in the North of England’ - were the church to interpret its history, for example learned how to excavate using a trowel, how opened to the public from 10 June 1916 we discovered the ‘Lepers’ Window’ allowed to conserve finds on site and how to record a as ‘The Loos Trenches’. There is no other sick people to view a religious service without trench. The weather was mixed from bright comparable instance of this in Britain. By coming into contact with healthy people. sunshine to rain so we learned what life is July 1917, over £2000 (£86,000 today) Following the tour we worked with members really like as a field archaeologist working had been raised for the King’s Lancashire of MAS and cleaned ledger style graves outdoors! But, we didn’t let it put us off Military Convalescent Hospital (now which we later recorded by copying down and we continued working hard. We really the Blackpool International Airport site). the inscription and taking measurements. We enjoyed our day in Rainford and we feel The trenches remained open seven days discovered some of the writing had almost lucky to have worked on a site with such a a week for Blackpool’s holiday season completely faded away so we took rubbings large amount of finds. and, re-named ‘The Arras Trenches’, of the graves to help us read the inscriptions. again in 1917 and probably in 1918. We had a fantastic day in the sunshine Kerry Massheder Whilst practice trenches were ubiquitous learning new investigative skills. throughout Britain, the only other ‘Guides to take visitors through the recorded instances of public opening were The Rainford’s Roots Community labyrinths’: First World War training briefly at Kensington Gardens (denigrated Archaeology Project is run by the Merseyside and the public in Blackpool by Wilfred Owen) and mock-ups at Archaeological Society and archaeologists Knightsbridge Hall, both in London. from National Museums Liverpool and is I was contracted by Blackpool Council funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The to undertake a desk-based assessment of Training the army and other services project aims to provide archaeological a remarkably complete set of First World was big business for Blackpool during opportunities for the public to explore the Post War practice trenches, in Watson Road the First World War. In November 1914, Medieval pottery and clay pipe industries in Park close to Blackpool Pleasure Beach. 14,000 troops of the West Lancashire Rainford, St Helens. The Mersey and Dee Based on the results, the Council are now Division were billeted, and the eventual branch of YAC attended the Rainford Library formulating a public engagement strategy, total was nearer 20,000. Interviewed excavations in August. We took part in a possibly including a Heritage Lottery veterans refer to physical training on the range of archaeological activities including bid. Archives accessed included film and Promenade, and on the sands. The Watson excavating, sieving, finds washing and field audio (interview), maps, postcards, aerial Road trenches were constructed and used walking the grounds. We uncovered some photographs, newspapers on microfilm, and between September 1915 and May 1916. great finds including part of a decorative Council minutes. A notebook kept by Capt. G. B. L. Rae metal ring and a large number of clay pipe of the King’s Liverpool Regiment (KLR,

3 | CBA News NW Autumn 2013 aka the Liverpool Scottish) includes them part of 2013. Museum activities have and also practice grounds on Rigby Road, included: making replica Greek shields and near Layton cemetery. Capt. Rae and discovering how a phalanx worked, identifies the battalions at Watson Road as sorting Roman pottery from Barri Jones’ the 3/6th, 3/8th, and 3/9th KLR, the 3/4th Manchester excavations and the ever popular Loyal North Lancashires, the 3/5th King’s “Smashing Pots” as part of the Festival of Own Royal Lancashires, and the 3/4th British Archaeology Big Saturday at the South Lancashires. Manchester Museum.

Postcards show the bannered entrance at However, getting out and digging remains flanges on both sides. The side loop is the junction of Hampton Road and Lytham closest to their hearts, and they have dug adjacent to the stop ridge. The length of the Road, visitors being taken c. 275 metres in all weathers with unflagging enthusiasm. axe is 155mm and the width of the blade is around what had been used as No-Man’s First up was at Moss Bank Park, Bolton 50mm. The thickness is 29mm and the axe Land, to reach the trenches. The entry fee in March, a day of cold and sleet halfway weighs 359g. The septum measures c7.5mm was 6d (‘Wearers of His Majesty’s Uniform up Winter Hill (never was a place better above the stop ridge. There is a median thin admitted free’), to which War Tax was named). The children had a fantastic time, rib from the stop ridge to the blade facet that added in 1917; the guide book (from which and we have rarely seen a happier group of flares into a fan shape. my title comes) cost 1d. Convalescent mudlarks coming back down to the carpark soldiers provided guided tours (and made to their parents. Then there was Balderstone Stuart Noon, Finds Liason Officer, Portable good money from tips), and there were Park, Rochdale, working on the barn to the Antiquities Scheme, Lancashire and refreshment tents. The backfilling of the main house, where (“as usual” according Cumbria trenches evidently took place after the to the children) they excavated a drain and Council for British Archaeology North West convalescent hospital held a gymkhana found a deal of slag. Regional Group in No Man’s Land in August 1918. The Registered Charity trenches lie entirely within Watson Road Both these digs were with the University No. 1081620 Park, which opened in 1928, but No Man’s of Salford’s Dig Greater Manchester, but Land is now occupied by 1930s housing. in July at the start of the heatwave the Chair: children were working with the University Mike Nevell The site shows well on 1980s aerial of Manchester’s archaeology department on Tel: 0161 295 3825 photographs, and re-cut trenches besides their continuing investigation of Whitworth e-mail:[email protected] those shown on the guide book plan suggest Park. There again their finds contributed to blog: www.archaeologyuos.wordpress.com that development of training on the site the highly interesting assemblage coming merits more research. Colin Merrony out of that dig. Hon Secretary: and Andrew Reid, of the Department of Rebecca Mason Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Finally, we would like to congratulate two Tel: 07841 879383 carried out geophysics prospection on part of of our Young Helpers, who are now moving e-mail: [email protected] the site, and Peter Iles conducted a watching on to study Archaeology at their first choice brief during extension of the park pavilion, universities. It is very rewarding for us Hon Treasurer: both with a degree of success, despite the as adult leaders and helpers to see YAC Clare Pye sandy soil. members sustain their youthful enthusiasm e-mail: [email protected] and go for a career in archaeology. We wish Nigel Neil them every luck for the future. CBA North West publishes two newsletters each year, in the spring and autumn. Manchester YAC. Spring and Summer Clare Pye Contributions are invited from Cheshire, 2013 Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Middle Bronze Age Palstave Merseyside on all aspects of archaeology The Manchester branch of YAC have in the North West. If you wish to had a varied programme during the first This is a copper alloy single looped palstave contribute information that you feel would axe with a high, protruding stopridge and be of interest to members of CBANW, well preserved side loop dating to the Mid please contact the Newsletter Editor: Bronze Age, 1300 to 1150BC, possibly Dave Roberts relating to the Silsden types generally dated Tel: 0151 427 2980. to the Penard period. The axe is complete, e-mail: [email protected] except for the tip of the butt, and is in good condition. The body of the palstave is narrow Please note that contributions may have to but splays down the blade eventually flaring be edited. at the blade edge which is wide. The blade Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed has a heavily curved faceted/bevelled cutting by contributors to this Newsletter are solely YAC members discussing finds with Dr Mel edge which may well have been hammered. those of the author and do not necessarily Giles, Whitworth Park July 2013 The butt is squared, tapering with narrow represent those of CBANW. 4 | CBA News NW Autumn 2013