C B A N o r t h N e ws l e t te r Issue 11 April 2012 INSIDE THIS ISSUE A Day Out in Hexham Gisborough Priory Project 2 Joint CBA North event with the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Unravelling the Archaeology and 2 Durham and Northumberland (Arch & Arch) Historic Environment of the North Saturday 18 August 2012 and North West Please enjoy a day out with CBA The Higher Education Field Acade- 3 North in Hexham at our join event my with Arch & Arch. The event begins Skeletons from Durham Market 4 at 11 o’clock with a guided walk Place around the historic buildings of Sunderland Heritage Forum History 4 Hexham with buildings historian Fair Peter Ryder. Archaeology Classes in Durham 4 An optional guided tour of the Old Under the Butcher's Knife 4 Gaol (10% off normal admission price - full admission prices into the Recent Publications 5 gaol are adult charge £3.95, OAPs Rock Art Mobile Project 5 Events 6 CBA Festival of British Archaeology 7 2012 The Flodden & 16th Century Living 9 The Moot Hall, Hexham. Photo from History www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en- 239167-the-moot-hall-hexham/photos Northern Archaeology Group’s ex- 9 cavation of Betty Watson’s Road at Please note that the Moot Hall has Piercebridge no wheelchair access. It has one flight of stone stairs outside, then Heart of Teesdale Heritage Survey 10 Hexham Abby c1900. Photo from http:// one flight of wooden carpet- Moving on from the CBA 10 communities.northumberland.gov.uk/ covered stairs inside, to the func- Launch of Durham Archaeology 10 006405FS.htm tion room. Explorers! £3.20, student/child £2.10). Arch & Arch is providing a bus from Rediscovering a Medieval Fulling 11 Durham City centre which CBA At 2:00 pm, you can attend a talk Mill North members from Durham can about the Hexham Abbey by Eric book onto if they wish. New Ure-Swale Archaeology Fo- 11 Cambridge. This talk will take place rum (USAF) based at Newcastle in the Lockhart Room of the Moot Places for the day and bus must be University Hall. booked in advance with Jennifer CBA Membership News 12 Morrison, CBA North secretary. Afternoon tea, coffee, cakes, and You can contact her on 0191 211 Copy Deadline for next Newsletter 12 scones will be provided for us in the 6218 or email her at CBA North Sponsors 12 Moot Hall by Bunters Café. [email protected]. Visit us online at: http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cban/ CBA North: registered charity #1098854 P a g e 2 I s s u e 1 1 Gisborough Priory Project Unravelling the Archaeology and Historic by Ann Roe Environment of the North and North West The Gis- By Jennifer Morrison Heritage and Training Ltd, who described his geophysics and borough Pri- On Saturday, 29 October 2011, excavation projects at ory Project CBA North and North West Papcastle and Cockermouth. consists of a organised a joint conference at small but dedi- Kirkland Hall in Kendal to The last talk of the morning cated group of showcase some of the was presented by David Maron, volunteers archaeological work which is site superviser at the Newcastle who have ongoing in the region. The University and English Heritage been working Limestone carved to represent event was chaired by Keith excavations at Maryport hard for years chain mail from a knight's tomb. © Merrin of CBA North and Helen Roman Fort. to open up a Gisborough Priory Project Caffrey of CBA North West. After a delicious lunch, Tim part of an his- The day, which was very well Padley of Tullie House Museum toric garden to the public. attended, comprised a and Art Gallery Trust in Carlisle The gardens were created on land that previous- fascinating range of talks on a talked about the new Roman ly belonged to Gisborough Priory and that after wide variety of topics. gallery. the disollution of the monasteries was bought by In the first talk Norman Nigel Neil of the Lancashire the Chaloner family who built a magnificent Redhead, County Archaeologist Gardens Trust explained the mansion and garden on the site in the 18th centu- for Greater Manchester, ‘Historic Designed Landscapes ry. Much of the gardens survived until the 1930s. explained how archaeology of Lancashire’ Project. We have had professional archaeological excava- formed part of the planning The last two talks of the day tions done by the University of Durham Archaeo- process through Planning were Andrew Fielding of the logical Services and their full report can be read Policy Statement 5 (this Bournemouth University/Ecosal on our website. document was replaced by the -Atlantis Project talking about new National Planning Policy In addition to that salt making in the north-west Framework in April). things crop up when of England and CBA North we are weeding and Then Paul Frodsham, Historic committee member and digging the flower Environment Officer for the Northumberland County beds! North Pennines AONB Archaeologist, Chris Burgess on During the course of Partnership and CBA North the Flodden 500 project, our work numerous committee member, talked commemorating 500 years finds have come to about the community since the Battle of Flodden. ‘Altogether Archaeology’ light. Some of our Everyone seemed to enjoy the project, where some 400 favourites are the day, which was an eclectic mix volunteers have come together pieces of stone of planning, community, for a 3 year project to be carved in the form Roman, garden, industrial, and trained in archaeological of chain mail – prob- battlefield archaeology. There techniques and to enjoy the Limestone probably from a ably from the tomb was something to suit all diverse but little-studied tomb canopy carved with of a knight in the interests. foliage and a rose. © Gis- church, parts of a archaeological remains in the CBA North hopes to collaborate borough Priory Project medieval canopy in AONB. Some of the key with CBA North West and other limestone. It is fasci- excavations thus far have been CBA groups again in the future. nating to think how these things ended up in the at Westgate Castle in Weardale If you have a theme or topic gardens. and Muggleswick Grange near Consett. you would like us to consider, We will be taking part in this year's Festival of please let us know by emailing nd The theme of community Archaeology on 22 July when we will try to [email protected]. trace the original 18th century garden paths. For archaeology continued with details: www.gisboroughprioryproject.co.uk. Mark Graham of Grampus N e w s l e t t e r P a g e 3 The Higher Education Field Academy a test pit as part of the project. Councillor Sheila Ellis and By Dr Sam Turner and Hannah Flint the Friends of Rectory Park (numbering about 8 in total) excavated a 1m2 test pit over the two days as well as mix- The Higher Education Field Academy (North East) was ing with the children and students. This gave that excava- established in early 2011. The project has used the model tion a real community feel. set up by Carenza Lewis at the University of Cambridge, and aims to 1) raise the aspirations of 13-17 year-olds, and “The Friends had a great and worthwhile experi- encourage them to think about going on to higher educa- ence” (Councillor Sheila Ellis, Houghton) tion; 2) help local communities find out more about the origins of their villages and settlements; and 3) contribute AimHigher, who were responsible for organizing the to academic research on historic settlement at Newcastle school groups attending the HEFA excavations also had University positive things to say about the project: The HEFA project involves taking pupils from local schools “Thanks for all the hard work with the test pits and the lab into the field for two days to excavate 1m2 test pits. A work, I hope you found the work with schools interest- third day is spent in the Wolfson lab where the school chil- ing…” (Maggie Stewart, Aim Higher Manager, Sunder- dren learn about post excavation work, take part in a ca- land) reers discussion and then visit the Great North Museum. Student volunteers who work with the project have also In the 2011 season, four field schools were held in the given positive feedback ‘ The project is impeccably organ- North East region: Great Whittington, Houghton le ised, professionally executed and instils self-belief within Spring, Derwentcotes Steel Furnace and Earsdon, with a all that are involved. It is also a great accolade to the Uni- total of 94 participants from eight schools in the North versity as to how well equipped I felt to partake and al- East and seven home schooled children. lowed me to apply my practical skills and knowledge in the field leading a team...However the real joy came from Feedback from the participants has been positive with observing the young people, consisting of two different pupils enjoying the opportunity to take part in archaeo- schools, bond as a team. Their enthusiasm despite the logical research with university students. For example, cold and damp weather to execute the tasks with preci- teacher’s comments included: sion and ensure their ‘booklet’ was filled “The enthusiasm of the students in correctly was admirable. The joy and involved was clear and this really pride they demonstrated whilst produc- rubbed off on the learners and ing drawings to scale of stones and roots helped them take it seriously and in the soil and their determination to get genuinely excited by their find that elusive artefact whilst sieving finds.