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According to the latest figures, we are getting over 300 hits a month on our Internet
web-site. Andy Best, who publishes the site, say he has been monitoring the visitors and
is amazed at the numbers. Another surprising thing is that by far the majority are coming
from across the Atlantic (173 for the month of August). Of these, strangely enough, most
are from the State of Virginia - nearly 70%. The figures for August also show that
although most are just fleeting visitors, a significant proportion (about 23%) spent a
total of over three and a half hours reading our information.
So, if you feel you have something to say or want to show something off to a wider
audience, Andy would be only too pleased to include it in the next web-site update
(something archaeological of course).
Lathom House
Lathom House |
In December 1645 this famous mansion near Ormskirk was totally razed to the
ground, after surrendering to the Parliamentarians at the end of the Civil War. Two years
earlier Lady Charlotte, wife of the Earl of Derby had successfully held out for a second
time against the forces of Sir Thomas Fairfax, who had laid siege for five months. The
huge fortified building, built by the Earls of Derby, had boasted nine towers and 6ft
thick walls and was once home to the likes of Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry
VII.
For the last 350 years its exact site had remained a complete mystery, but now the secrets
of this enigmatic structure are about to be revealed.
Base of a Tudor Chimney |
Archaeologists from Lancaster University in conjunction with the newly formed
Lathom Park Trust, are about to start excavations in the grounds of the 18th century
Lathom Hall. It was during recent renovation work on this grade two listed building, that
artefacts dating from the 1640’s were uncovered. These include pottery, glass, clay
pipes, animal bones, bricks, masonry and the base of a fine Tudor chimney stack (see
photo).
Stephen Baldwin, of the Lathom District Archaeological Society says that Lancashire
Council are helping to fund the excavations which will start later this month. It was
Stephen in 1996 who first identified the position of the huge rock cut moat, which once
surrounded the old house. Also, in the following year, foundations were uncovered, which
he believes identify the site of the ancient building. Now, with the current work
underway, hopes are high that the true position will finally be confirmed and preservation
steps can begin.
CBA Autumn Conference
This will take place at St Mary’s Centre, Castle Street, Chester, on 14th October.
This year’s subject is ‘The Archaeology of the Christian Church’ and will
include five talks, ranging from ‘The Story of Christianity in Lancashire’ to
‘The Coptic Church in Egypt’. If you are interested in going, please see me at
the meeting for more details.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 4th October at the BP Centre (Scout HQ) in Greenough Street, at 7.30 pm as
usual. This month’s speaker was to have been Dr Malcolm Bain with the last in his
three part series describing the Medival landscape of Anglezark and Rivington Moor.
Unfortunately unforeseen circumstances are forcing him to postpone his visit. However, we
have a replacement - at the last minute local historian Fred Holcroft has kindly offered
to give us a talk on ‘Military tactics throughout the ages’.
Hope to see you there - B.A
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