Last month our small resistivity team set off in search of the lost Boer War Memorial statue (see last month's newsletter). In less than clement weather and in difficult terrain among the trees and undergrowth (around the back of the park - not quite Indiana Jones territory) we managed to
survey a smaller area (6 metres x 10 metres). The position we selected spanned either side of the spot where an ex-park attendant had indicated to Brian Parr that he had dumped the remains in the late sixties. We did not particularly expect to get a result here on this ground, which is now generally flat, as originally it had been a small valley and has been filled in over the years it with compost and debris from the park. When we got home, however, and loaded the data onto the computer, we were able to detect a large target on the scan. The next step obviously would be to dig this spot to see if this is what we think it is. Carol Littler from the Friends of the Memorial has said that after Christmas she will try to organise volunteers from the TA to get out their spades and see what they can find.
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St Williams School
Last week Tom, Brian and Mark met with Chris Burke, head-teacher at St William's and Gillian Hyde, head-teacher from Ince C of E Primary School, to discuss a programme for the excavation in the school playground. It was decided that the excavation would commence after Christmas but an auguring session with the children would start in the week commencing the 9th of this month. It was also pointed out that the C of E Primary School bordered with George Street, which has been suggested as an alternative route for the Roman Road. A resistivity survey was therefore arranged for the week starting 16th of this month and would involve the children from that school.
Billinge Watching Brief
The main part of Billinge Hospital was demolished earlier this year to make way for a new 212-home housing development. Much of the ground will have already been disturbed during the hospital's construction in the early sixties. However areas around the nurse's home, which the demolition teams have yet to reach, may prove fruitful from an archaeological point of view. 35 years ago, while some construction work was being carried in this area, there was a report of a plaque or gravestone dating from the Roman period being unearthed. Apparently this was not recorded and soon disappeared (a familiar storey in those days). With this in mind Tom as contacted the developers who have given him permission to carry out a watching brief on the site around the old nurse's home.
Heritage Network
This is one of the nine Community Networks that are administrated by the Community Empowerment Program. It is design to bring together all those groups and societies who are interested in our local heritage. Both Tom and Brian have been attending the Network meetings over this last year. At last month's meeting Tom was able to express his concerns about a significant development which has been given planning permission at Common Nook in Higher Ince. The site is very close to the excavations we carried out in Walmesley Park as part of the Time Team Big Dig in 2003. This was high profile project and Tom expressed his disappointment that permission had been given without any archaeological condition being attached to it. Tom suggested that in future any large scale application should be referred automatically to our society so that we could comment on its archaeological sensitivity before permission is granted. In this case, one plot has still to be given permission, so we will pursue this one before it is too late.
Abraham Guest School
At the Heritage meeting the new development at the Gossips (see last month's newsletter) was mentioned and the issue of the old Clark's wagon road. It is now apparent that the field in which the road ran has been purchased by the developers and will be converted in to a multipurpose playground area. Our recommendation here is that the site should be recorded before it is destroyed as it was a significant road in the early development of Wigan's coal industry.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 5th December at the District Scout HQ (Baden Powell Centre) in Greenough Street, starting at 7.30 pm as usual. This month we have our annual favourite Ian Miller from Oxford Archaeology North. In September this year a unit from OAN were involved in surveying and excavation work at Chorlton Fold. One of the discoveries was a ditch cut into the sandstone which predated the farm buildings. Norman Redhead from the GMAU was so impressed with the results of the initial work, he got the excavations extended by two weeks. Ian will be updating us on this and other activities by the unit in the Wigan area. As it is the last meeting before Christmas the usual seasonal refreshment will be available after the talk.
Hope to see you there
B.A.
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