ISSUE 10 AUTUMN 2005 Designed and produced by Aiken Graphics Tel:01598 763316 NDAS Committee Useful contacts Subscriptions Contents 2005-6 Representing Members: June Aiken (Parracombe Group) 01598 763316 By the time the next edition of the newsletter Editorial Derry Bryant, Malcolm Faulkner,Terry Green, Jane Derry Bryant (NDAS Secretary) 01769 572963 appears another subscription year will have Holworthy Farm Excavation, Green, Mary Houldsworth, Marion Hughes, Colin Sally Cotton(South Molton and District Local passed. We hope you will not mind being July - August 2005 Humphreys, Jonathan Lomas, Ann Mandry, David History Society) 01769 572378 reminded, therefore that membership Parker, Chris Preece, Maureen Wood Janet Daynes (ACE Archaeology, Winkleigh and subscriptions for 2006 - 2007 become due on The NDAS Local History Day District) 01837 83925 1st April. 8th October Representing Associated Groups: Jane Green (NDAS Treasurer and Membership June Aiken (Parracombe History and Archaeology The subscription is £16 per year per individual, The Skills Database Secretary) 01271 866662 Society), Sally Cotton (South Molton Archives), £24 for couples and £5 for students and juveniles. Terry Green (NDAS Newsletter) 01271 866662 A Year with the Resistivity Meter Harry Cramp (Torrington History Society), Trevor The subscription covers the production of two Collette Hall (NDDC Conservation Officer) 01271 Dunkerley (Combe Martin Local History Society, newsletters a year, insurance, speakers’ expenses A New Survey Technique 346436 CMSMRPS), Jim Knights (Brayford History Society), and the hire of a lecture room, costs incurred in Sean Hawken (Community Landscapes Project) More Slag! Deborah Laing-Trengove (Hatherleigh the Society’s projects, general running costs and 01392 263851 Archaeological Group) occasional financial support for individuals or Six Acre Farm Jim Knights (Brayford and Charles Group) groups making a contribution to preserving the Caffyns Representing Interested Bodies: 01598 710014 heritage of North Devon. Malcolm Prowse (North Devon District Council), Deborah Laing-Trengove (Hatherleigh History Post-medieval Earthenware Relief Tiles of Alison Mills (Museum of Barnstaple and North Group) 01837 810310 Subscriptions should be sent to the Membership North Devon Devon), Sue Scrutton (Torrington Museum) Alison Mills (Museums Service) 01271 346747 Secretary, Jane Green, 5 Chambercombe Park The Exmoor Iron Project Jenny Yendall (Tiverton Archaeological Group Terrace, Ilfracombe EX34 9QW from whom Chairman: and South Molton Museum) 01884 255397 standing order mandate forms can also be A Walk Round Baggy Point Terry Green Lyn Walmesley (Teign Archaeology Group and acquired. Researching Exmoor’s Past Vice-Chairman: Secretary CBA South-West) 01392 432184 Your Chance to Help Ann Mandry Trevor Dunkerley (Combe Martin Silver Mines Meetings and Correspondence Secretary: Research and Preservation Society) 01271 Portable Antiquities Derry Bryant 883833 at the Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon Treasurer and Membership Secretary: Rob Wilson-North (Exmoor National Park News from the North Devon Record Office Jane Green Authority Archaeologist) 01398 323665 Dates for your Diary Other Archaeological Bodies: Devon County Historic Environment Record: 01392 382246 Portable Antiquities Scheme: (RAM Museum Exeter): 01392 665983 Council for British Archaeology (York): 01904 671417 National Sites and Monuments Record (Swindon): 01793 414600 Cover picture: Holworthy Farm 2005, Fanny Hall helping Brian Fox with the The printing of this Edition of the NDAS newsletter is recording of a feature in Trench 3. supported by Southwest Archaeology 2 3 Editorial Holworthy Farm Excavation, July - August 2005 Terry Green How well are we doing? approaching publication. Survey is the mainstay of position to take it on. We have worked to Following the very successful NDAS Holworthy Farm many an archaeological society, for the very good professional standards with thorough preparation, excavation of 2004 – reported in previous Let us consider the stated objectives of the reason that it represents non-intrusive data clearly stated objectives, financial arrangements in newsletters - it was decided early in the year that in Society. These were quoted at you in the last gathering on which further work can be based. It place, full recording, commissioning of specialist 2005 we should follow up by locating the remainder editorial (Spring 2005), so please excuse the takes many forms: recording of standing buildings, reports and a plan for publication. We are of the apparent roundhouse, exploring some of the repetition. Our aims are: the recording of field-boundaries, field-walking, committed to this standard wherever we have interior of the enclosure and examining features To promote awareness and interest in archaeology map work, documentary research, and, if you have occasion to excavate. highlighted by Ross Dean’s geophysical survey. and history with particular reference to northern the equipment (as we do), geophysical survey of In considering our successes and our Permission and approval were obtained, as Devon. known or suspected sites. Survey is, above all, shortcomings, it is important to remember that we before, from Phil and Julie Rawle, Rob Wilson-North; something in which all members can participate. It are a voluntary organisation and that we do what and DEFRA/ESA, while Fred and Sue Rawle once To encourage field survey, recording and research. is essential groundwork which may represent an we can. Nevertheless, we have already set a again allowed us to access the site across their land. To promote the preservation and interpretation of end in itself or the basis of further, more standard which we hope to maintain. The various The excavation was again supervised by Dr Martin ancient monuments and antiquities in the region. specialised investigation. How good are we at it? contributors to this edition of the newsletter have Gillard who brought three students from Exeter to Well, the fishweir survey represents successful each in their own way fulfilled one or more of the supplement the volunteers from NDAS and from Where appropriate and necessary, to excavate to completion, while the conduct of geophysical Society’s objectives. They are the strength of the TAG. We also had a volunteer from Gloucester who professional standards and to publish the results survey is on the rising side of the learning curve; Society, and as our membership steadily increases, had seen the dig advertised in the Current of research. there is still work to do on the field-boundary we would hope and expect to achieve more and Archaeology handbook. survey at Parracombe and the survey of standing to consolidate our position in this part of Devon. Derry Bryant took charge of funding, and was How far are we achieving these objectives? buildings has hardly got off the ground. able to raise a total of £2,000 from The Royal In early October we had another Local History As for promoting the preservation and Archaeological Institute, the Council for British Day. In terms of objective number one, this event interpretation of ancient monuments and Archaeology and North Devon District Council. We was a success, but could be made even more antiquities in the region, we have made HOLIDAY CHALET are grateful to these bodies for their support and successful in future by strong promotion through representations to NDDC on heritage aspects of Bucks Cross, North Devon must also thank RMB Chivenor once again for the the media.Our programme of winter talks is also the Local Plan and have had some success in 2 Bed chalet (sleeps 4) on holiday park. loan of tents. Special mention must be made of Jim open to the public at large, and we get a number getting it adjusted. Interpretation takes us back to Glorious sea views of Bideford Bay from chalet. Knghts who was a logistical Mary Poppins, always 4 miles from Clovelly, on coastal footpath. of visitors on most occasions, so there too we are “promoting awareness”, and there is more we 30 mins to surfing beaches. seemingly able to come up with just what was fulfilling our aim. Although there are bodies such could do to see that local people and visitors are needed! as the National Park, the National Trust and the provided with information. Lounge/diner, kitchen area, bath/shower, 1 double 1 twin bedroom. Large sun deck with recently formed AONB organisation whose job it is Finally there is excavation which comes at the panoramic view of sea: Lundy, Saunton, Croyde. to inform the public about the sites of which they end of the list. The vast majority of the general Heating, linen, electricity included. have charge, there is probably more that we could public would probably put it first, since the idea of TV/DVD/microwave. do to ensure that people are informed about the archaeologists as primarily diggers is fostered in historic sites in their neighbourhead. On the other literature and the media. Most professional Park facilities (April to October) inc 2 pools, bar, restaurant, takeaway, tennis, entertainment, hand, when we have an energetic soul such as archaeologists will tell you however, that shop, childrens’ entertainment Trevor Dunkerley setting up a website to publicise excavation, being basically destructive, is a last Also available off season – great base the archaeology and history of North Devon, it is resort. In the case of Holworthy Farm, excavation for walking/fishing/golfing holidays. clear that there are new and innovative ways of has come about