The Friends had another excellent speaker in Dave Joy who excelled at unpicking the social history and changes in cowkeeping in Liverpool. As he said it was a play in three acts, firstly the shifting of the farmers from the Yorkshire Dales – Hebden, in the case of Dave’s family who re located in the
This was a most fascinating exhibition which was too late for some people who were the concubines and slaves of the early Chinese Emporers. Unfortunately they were victims of ‘retainer sacrifice’ being put to death to serve their leader in the afterlife. The Emporer Qin Shi Huang must have thought he would have had no
This was another excellent talk by Maggie Simms which again fascinated and enthralled the Friends at the start of the 2018/19 season. Iraq is where the evidence for the worlds’ oldest cities lies. A succession of groups of people have competed to own it and each has left its mark. The ziggurat at Ur, of
Ee by gum, who would have thought that the Friends would be flying through the air, without the aid of a broomstick? No need to panic, we were ascending on the Anderton Boat Lift near Northwich. This is an amazing feat of ingenious engineering that lifts boats and barges from the River Weaver 50 feet
No clogs or shawls were required for our visit to historic Higherford Mill. Over 40 people enjoyed a powerpoint presentation by our own, Frank Walsh, in the 15th century Cruck Barn, at the Pendle Heritage Centre; followed by a riverside walk up to Higherford Mill led by Anthony Pilling ,a descendant of Pilling and son,
CHIPPING OVER INTO PREHISTORY Our current Prehistoric dig has revealed a surface studded with fragments of abraded and worked chert under 5mm, many under 2mm, suggesting it was where someone sat up to 10.000 years ago making stone tools. If you look at the photo, the material we are interested in is the small black
Sunny, fine weather welcomed the final day of digging in Trench 4. Work on Trench 4 was continued in order to ascertain the nature of the possible road surface. Context 3 was excavated in the north-west of the trench. This area of the trench was excavated firstly by light mattocking, then by
A return to Calf Hill in the rain was arranged as a result of questions raised by the magnetometry survey completed by Mike Woods on 13/8/2018. Test Pit 1 was opened between the banks to ascertain if the cobbled surface found in Trench 2/3 continues between the banks. Test Pit 1 (1m2) was opened
Although the weather was mixed, the group enjoyed learning about, and having a go at, magnetometry with Mike Woods. Magnetometry is the technique of measuring and mapping patterns of magnetism in the soil. An area of Calf Hill including the banks feature was surveyed.
What an exciting morning this was, family fun as the children rushed round to complete their treasure hunt around Barrowford. They looked high and low for millstones, pigeon holes, at the fish pass and the bowling green, collecting red roses on the way. Everyone was successful and as every photo tells a story here they
Calf Hill dig August 4th 2018 Day 7 A final look atTrench 2and Trench 3 The final day on Calf Hill was warm and fine. With only half a day of digging left, the time was used to answer three main questions; How far do the cobbles extend under the bank in Trench 3? What
Although the day dawned warm and fine, a halt was called to digging at lunchtime due to heavy rain and thunder. Even so, some tantalising clues were beginning to emerge from both trenches. Trench 2 Cleaning the cobble layer in the west of Trench 2, few finds were uncovered other than pieces of chert. The
Day 5 Another sunny day welcomed us back to Calf Hill for another full day of digging. The main distraction was another visit by the cows. Once they had settled for a snooze, work could continue. Trench 2 The stone feature was cleaned and recorded. The planning frame was used to gain an accurate picture
Day 4 Another fine, dry but windy day allowed continued work in Trench 2. The stone feature from the east of the trench was uncovered in the west of the trench. This was difficult due to the plant roots which slowed progress. In the east of the trench, a compacted layer was discovered. Context 2,
Day 3 Fine, sunny weather welcomed the start of the third day of digging. After the retreat of a herd of friendly cows, who found Trench 2 very interesting, work on the site could begin. The loose stones were removed from the east of the trench, revealing yellow clay reinforced with stones. The area exposed
Day 2 dawned bright and fine, following cancellation of digging the previous day due to heavy rain and wind. Work continued in Trench 1, and Trench 2 was opened in the ditch. The stones on the top of the bank were defined. In doing so, more of the compacted yellow clay layer was revealed. The
On a day of sunshine, wind and heavy rain, trench 1 (2m x 4m) was opened on the northern side of the bank and ditch feature. The turf was difficult to remove, probably due to the recent dry weather. Once the turf had been removed, the top soil was trowelled. Removal of the grey,
What a smashing turn out to hear and see Kate Saffin and Heather Wastie part of Alarum Theatre perform the roles of Idle Women. Of course they weren’t idle at all and neither were the Idle Women in the title, this myth grew after Susan Wolfit wrote the book ‘Idle Women’ about the life of
The summer weather was kind to the group on their trip to Yorkshire, with plenty of sunshine. After setting off bright and early, a visit to a coffee shop was required to recharge batteries before driving through country lanes to begin the day at Wharram Percy, Europe’s best known deserted village. Wharram Percy Settlement in
The AGM was conducted satisfactorily and dear friends, as there was no one to step into the breach!, last year’s committee members were reinstated. At the end of the evening we enjoyed a light supper, before that however we were treated to some aspects of Pendle that we did know and quite a few that
A good group of people gathered at Wycoller car park for a splendid guided walk by our Chairman David Taylor. We examined the vaccaries (or medieval cattle ranches) in the area that had been researched by the group many years ago. It was a beautiful day and many people saw aspects of Wycoller that they
Eeee by gum… what a gradely day that was. We were chuffed wi’ good weather and able to spill out inter garden and the courtyard and mill around in the warm sunshine. Local Morris dances performed by local Morris dancers – The Malkin Morris Dancers, whoever knew there was a Morris dance called Whalley!
King’s Highway to Heyhouses (with return via Whin’s House) After parking on Clitheroe Road the group walked along the track towards the Craggs Farms until it met the junction with the King’s Highway. The group walked down King’s Highway into Heyhouses. The road was followed to Sabden Bridge. The walk looked at tracks, roads and
With mixed feelings of trepidation, anticipation and excitement fourteen bewildered adventurers boarded the coach for Hull with the common question of; why are we doing this? Why Hull? First stop Sandal Castle, where we were amazed to find a renegade member who’d recently returned to live in her native Yorkshire but was missing us already
Pendle’s Hidden Valley Field Walk (14 April 2018) Upper Craggs The Joy Of Flexibility – aka. The Best Laid Plans Of Mice & Men Alex Whitlock The intention had been to look at possible prehistoric features between the Nick Of Pendle and Ogden Clough. And for the first few hundred yards we stuck to
The Craggs Revisited The group began the day studying LIDAR images and maps of the Sabden area in the Green Room. The proposed location of the Craggs vaccary was discussed. With the weather improving, an intrepid group braved the mud and the streams to visit the Craggs above Sabden. The purpose of the visit was
We had an excellent turnout for this afternoon talk in March, despite the sunny weather. And just to show that good things do come out of Yorkshire, Sheila Gordon, who devised the trail, Lady Anne’s Way and has a book of the same name, entertained us with a splendid talk. People were very appreciative of
What an excellent turn out on a cold February evening, it was well worth it to see the architectural hidden gems that are part of our northern heritage. Kevin Illingworth entertained us from his vast store of images and knowledge starting with features of Rufford Old Hall where a curved canopy gave protection to the
A group of fifteen of us gathered on a Post Ex Day. With regard to Pre History, Alex Whitlock mentioned examining antiquarian sources or contemporary accounts of the Hidden Valley (HV). Field walking in upland area may show significant areas that had not been ploughed out. Legal documents also may show some boundary lines due
According to Louis C. Tiffany, “Colour is to the eye what music is to the ear” and it is the luscious rich glowing colours that the world remembers when thinking of Tiffany Glass. However, not many people are aware of the fascinating and extraordinary story of Joseph Briggs a Lancashire Lad from Accrington made good.